Tag: Abdelaziz Bouteflika

UN tells Algeria to ‘guarantee freedom of religion to all’ after church closures

July 31, 2018 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria, Protestant Church of Algeria

The UN Human Rights Committee has urged the Algerian government to stop harassing its Christian minority, after several churches and other religious institutions were closed down in recent months. Since November 2017, six churches have been forcibly closed in the Maghreb country – three were later reopened – as well . . . Read More

Protestant churches in Algeria call on government to treat them fairly

May 23, 2018 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Aïn Turk, Algeria, Algiers, Idir Hamdad, Oran, Protestant Church of Algeria

The organisation linking 45 Protestant churches in Algeria, l’Eglise Protestante d’Algérie (EPA), has called on the Algerian government to lift its measure for closing down churches, and to give equal treatment under the Maghreb country’s constitution. “As full citizens, we call on the highest authorities in the country to ensure . . . Read More

Jailed Algerian Christian receives partial presidential pardon

July 12, 2017 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Bejaia, Berbers, Blasphemy, Constantine, Jijel, Kabylie, MAK, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs, Tizi Ouzou

Slimane Bouhafs has been released after 18 months in prison for alleged blasphemy on Facebook. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A Christian imprisoned for three years for “insulting Islam and the prophet Muhammad” in his social media posts has received a partial presidential pardon. Slimane Bouhafs, who converted to Christianity from Islam in 1997, was arrested almost a year ago (31 July 2016) for posting a message on social media . . . Read More

Fears for imprisoned Algerian Christian as Ramadan begins

May 26, 2017 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Bejaia, Berbers, Constantine, Jijel, Kabylie, MAK, Ramadan, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

As Ramadan begins, the daughter of an Algerian Christian serving three years in jail for “insulting Islam and the prophet Muhammad” on Facebook says she’s worried about the abuse her father could suffer after he was transferred to a third different prison. Slimane Bouhafs, who is eight months into his . . . Read More

UPDATE: Protests in Algeria for release of sick Christian

November 4, 2016 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Berbers, Blasphemy, Constantine, Kabylie, MAK, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

Bouhafs’ family said seeking a presidential pardon is a ‘last resort and the only possible solution to set him free’.World Watch Monitor Protesters in Algeria have called for the release of Slimane Bouhafs, an evangelical Christian jailed for three years in September for “insulting Islam and the prophet Mohammed” in . . . Read More

Algeria’s potential ‘Arab Spring’

April 15, 2014 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Egypt, Islamic extremism, Oran, Tunisia

A small group of protesters pre-empts a rally planned for Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on April 5 in Bejaia.Special to World Watch Monitor The so-called Arab Spring has seen the overthrow of several Presidents across North Africa: first in Tunisia, then Mubarak in Egypt, followed by Gaddafi in Libya . . . Read More

Algerian churches, NGOs wary as ‘restrictive’ law comes into force

January 10, 2014 Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algiers

A number of churches, as well as foreign NGOs, in Algeria have called for the abolishment of a new law, which they say will hamper their work. Under the law, which will come into effect on Sunday (January 12), NGOs may be dissolved or suspended if their business is deemed . . . Read More

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