Report: Algeria Convicts Five Of Christian Proselytizing

The Algerian daily El-Khabar reports that five Algerian Christians were convicted of proselytizing, and that some have been sentenced to a year in prison.

The trial, in the city of Tizi Ouzo, Kabylia, was held under a law regulating non-Muslim religious activity.

A member of the Christian community, who requested anonymity, accused police of entrapment, saying that a police officer had asked one of the accused about Christianity and requested a Bible.

Algeria's Religious Affairs Ministry has launched a campaign against Christian proselytizing, calling on Middle East sheikhs such as Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi and on Algerian governmental and non-governmental organizations to try to influence Kabylia residents, who, according to ministry reports, tend to take a positive view of Christian proselytizing.

Source: El-Khabar (Algeria), September 4, 2007

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