Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 076 | Wed 06 Oct 2010

—————————————————————
ALGERIA: SOCIETY PROTESTS ISLAMISATION AS CHRISTIANS FACE COURT
—————————————————————

As in many emerging Muslim democracies, hard-line Islamic
fundamentalists in Algeria have secured the balance of power and are
emerging as skilful politicians and experts in the art of quid pro quo.
Armed with their Qur’ans, they play the religion card for political
gain. Armed with threats of destabilising violence, riots and strikes,
they influence policy and dictate the agenda. However, decades of
horrific Islamic terror have left many Algerians traumatised and
profoundly disillusioned. Further to this, an awakening of Berber
identity — especially in the Kabylie region east of Algiers — has
seen a revival of indigenous language, culture and history, and
increasingly a rejection of Arab and Islamic imperialism. Christianity
is growing, especially in the Kabylie region, attracting the attention
of the Islamists. While persecution has escalated, the Church is not
alone, for many Kabylie citizens and rights groups are equally
concerned about advancing Islamisation, declining liberty, escalating
intolerance and state repression. A new struggle for Algeria is heating
up.

On 12 August two construction workers, Hocine Hocini (44) and Salem
Fellak (34), both recent converts from Islam, were arrested during
their lunch break and charged with ‘non-compliance with a precept of
Islam’ (a highly controversial article in Algeria’s penal code) for
eating during daylight hours in Ramadan. On 21 September the prosecutor
in the court of Ain el-Hammam, a town in the region of Tizi Ouzou in
Kabylie, requested that the men receive three years in prison. When
Hocine Hocini informed the court he was a ‘Protestant Christian’ and
not a Muslim, the prosecutor counselled him ‘to leave this country, a
land of Islam’. Outside the courthouse, hundreds of demonstrators —
including atheists, liberal Muslims, intellectuals, rights activists
and members of the movement for the autonomy of Kabylie — stood in
solidarity with hymn-singing Christians to protest ‘arbitrary use of
power’. On Tuesday 5 October, as hundreds waited outside the courthouse
again, the court handed down its verdict acquitting both men. Many saw
this as a victory for solidarity. Doubtless God was answering prayers,
for a guilty verdict would have had horrendous ramifications.

It will be interesting to see how the Islamic fundamentalists respond.
A similar case against eight Muslims accused of violating Ramadan in
Bejaia (also in Kabylie) will take place on 8 November. This case has
caused such an outcry it has been postponed twice already. According to
a 2009 poll, 36 percent of Algerians fast during Ramadan only
‘occasionally’, while seven percent do not fast at all. As one Algerian
business executive noted, 20 years ago all the restaurants of downtown
Algiers would stay open right through Ramadan.

In a case in Larbaa-Nath-Irathen (once again in the Kabylie region),
four Protestant leaders will face court on charges of ‘practising non-
Muslim worship without authorisation’. Already twice postponed, this
trial is now set for 10 October. The fellowship led by Pastor Yahou
Mahmoud and elders Raid Abdenour, Mokrani Nacer and Haouedj Idir is
affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), a nationally
accredited denomination with some 30,000 believers, mainly in Kabylie.
Pastor Yahou Mahmoud, who owns the property where the church meets,
will also be tried for ‘hosting a foreigner’ (a French pastor). Many
Algerian Christians believe the Islamists are aiming to drive them
either into dhimmitude (subjection) or out of Algeria. The President of
the EPA, Pastor Mustapha Krim, is appealing for an end to these abuses.

PRAISE GOD FOR:

* the court’s courage in upholding justice and acquitting Hocine
Hocini and Salem Fellak, doubtless despite government and Islamist
pressure.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:

* work all things together for good for the benefit of the Church and
the glory of his name, including the public witness of Algeria’s
persecuted Christians, the growing desire of Algerians for liberty
and the growing social solidarity.

* be profoundly present during the 10 October trial of Protestant
leaders Yahou Mahmoud, Raid Abdenour, Mokrani Nacer and Haouedj
Idir; may they trust in God as their refuge and strength. May the
Holy Spirit both give and bless the words they speak before the
court, the media and the masses. (Matthew 10:16-20.)

* continue to bless the gospel radio and satellite ministries that
have been so effective in bringing spiritual liberty, peace, hope
and transformation to many disillusioned Algerians; may God provide
all their needs, and protect them from attacks.

* grant wisdom and justice for Ali Arhab, head of France-based Chanel
North Africa, against whom Algeria has issued a nation-wide arrest
warrant.

~~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
———————————————————–

SOCIETY PROTESTS ISLAMISATION IN ALGERIA AS CHRISTIANS FACE COURT

On Tuesday 5 October a court in the Kabylie region east of Algiers
acquitted Christian converts Hocine Hocini and Salem Fellak of the
charge of ‘non-compliance with a precept of Islam’. They had been
arrested for eating lunch during Ramadan. During this and an earlier
trial, hundreds of concerned citizens and civil society groups stood
alongside Christians in a display of public solidarity to protest
growing intolerance and abuse of power. On Sunday 10 October four
Protestant leaders will face court, charged with ‘practising non-Muslim
worship without authorisation’. The fellowship led by Pastor Yahou
Mahmoud and elders Raid Abdenour, Mokrani Nacer and Haouedj Idir is
affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria, a large nationally
accredited denomination. The struggle for Algeria is heating up.
Please pray for its Church.

——————–

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’
.

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC
team. Previous bulletins may be viewed at .