Interrupting a worship service, police on 6 August sealed a church building in north-central Algeria, less than three months after locking shut another site in the same area.
‘I am deeply saddened by so much injustice – it breaks my heart,’ Pastor Messaoud Takilt said. ‘This is not surprising since other Christian places of worship have been closed and sealed.’
Three-day ultimatum
Gendarmes gave Pastor Takilt a three-day ultimatum to remove all contents from the building and a summons to report to the brigade. Days later, the gendarmes returned. They summoned him outside, where he told them the congregation did not want to leave the building. The gendarmes showed him their orders and urged him to cooperate.
One officer told the pastor that ‘if there is opposition, it is you, as the one responsible, who will have problems. Please note that the file and order is addressed to your name.’
Before the officer left, Pastor Takilt told him: ‘Know that we will continue to celebrate our worship outside, whether under the sun or in the rain.’
