Ghoulamallah: “15 Illegal Churches In Algeria, Christians Not Prosecuted”

Minister of Religious Affairs said on Thursday that there are 15 illegal churches in Algeria, denying however reports that Christians are enduring persecution in the North African nation.

Mr Abdellah Ghoulamallah riposted to statements uttered a couple of weeks ago by the Archbishop of Algiers, Ghaleb Abdalla Bader, when he accused authorities in Algeria of prohibiting Christians from practicing their rituals freely.

“Well, Mr Ghaleb Abdalla Bader can say anything he wants, but I’d tell him that I harassed no one,” the minister said, deploring however the reports that allege the existence of groups who are prohibited of practicing their rites. “The freedom of practicing religious rituals is guaranteed by the law, which allows the creation of religious associations and the building of churches, Mr Ghoulamalah specified. 

However, the official affirmed that evangelization in Algeria is still prohibited by the law, adding that the Ministry of Religious Affairs monitors closely the accredited religious associations, to make sure they are not sponsored by foreign parties, something that the law bans.