Churches in Algeria are facing intimidation and harassment, despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of worship in the country, it was reported in April.
On 24 April, a church in Mâatkas, in the north-eastern province of Kabylie, was ordered to cease all religious activities on the grounds that it was in breach of a 2006 law which regulates non-Muslim worship.
Freedom of worship?
The authorities have threatened to commence legal proceedings against the church if Christian worship continues in the building currently being used by the church. The notice provides no further detail about the alleged infringement, nor any timeframe within which steps should be taken to ensure compliance with the law.
The church in Mâatkas is affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria (known as EPA, its French acronym), which is legally registered. In response to the notice, the president of the EPA, the Revd Mahmoud Haddad, said it was a violation of the freedom of worship enshrined in the Constitution.
‘The new Constitution, passed in February 2016, has duly established freedom of religious worship. Its Article 36 clearly states that freedom of religious worship is guaranteed in compliance with the law’, he said. ‘The house where the church conducts its worship was rented on behalf of the EPA, which has an official agreement from the Ministry of the Interior. The majority of churches affiliated to the EPA are in the same situation. They rent rooms or houses [in which] to celebrate their worship. Are authorities going to send such notifications to all these churches?’
No breach of law
It is the second case encountered by a church affiliated with the EPA since the beginning of the year. In February, authorities issued a notice to the church in the town of Aït Djima, also in Kabylie, ordering it to close for breaching the 2006 law. But the church has continued its activities, arguing that there has been no breach of law.
The church leaders told the regional authorities about their activities and provided all relevant documentation, including a statement confirming the church’s affiliation with the EPA.
