Algeria court to rule next week in trial of Christian converts
ALGIERS (AFP) — An Algerian court is to hand down its judgement on July 2 following the trial of two Christian converts accused of proselytising, the head of the country's Protestant Church said Wednesday.
Mustapha Krim told AFP the two had been tried for allegedly distributing literature prejuducial to the Muslim faith.
A local journalist reported that the trial at Tissemsilt, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Algiers, had gone off smoothly.
The prosecution was the third to be brought against Christian converts in the mostly Muslim country since a controversial law was passed in February 2006 demanding non-Muslim congregations seek permits from regional authorities.
The two converts were each sentenced in their absence in November to two years in jail and a 5,000-euro (7,700-dollar) fine for illegally practising a non-Muslim religion.
They asked to be tried again in their presence, as permitted by Algerian law.
On June 3, four Christians were given suspended sentences for "illegally practising a non-Muslim cult."
One of the four received a six month suspended sentence with 2,000 euro fine, the other three two months suspended and 1,000 euro fine each.
In a separate case, another Christian convert, 37-year-old Habiba Kouider, is to appear before a court a second time, after he was discovered carrying a dozen bibles.
His first appearance, again on a charge of practising a non-Muslim religion without permission, saw the court in Tiaret demand a further investigation. The prosecution has demanded a three-year sentence.
The Protestant Church in Algeria has called for the 2006 law to be overturned, an appeal rejected by Communications Minister Abderrachid Boukerzaza.
The heads of the various Christian denominations in Algeria believe the law contravenes the freedom of religion guaranteed in the country's constitution.
