Algerian Police Seize Bibles as 12 Christians Arrested for Allegedly Holding Non-Muslim Gatherings

Special forces police in Algeria raided a worship service at a humanitarian shelter on 4 September, arresting all 12 Christians present on suspicion of holding an unauthorised non-Muslim religious service. The raid took place at the House of Refuge in L'Ayaida, 36 kilometres east of Oran, where police reportedly seized Christian literature, mobile phones and identity cards.

Algeria Christians Face Another Police Raid

The House of Refuge is described as a haven and restoration centre for vulnerable women and their families. It housed a worship hall before authorities ordered its administrative closure in October 2019, but Christians have continued to meet for church services in one of the separate apartments on the shelter premises.

The premises had reportedly been under surveillance for some time, according to sources cited in the report. After police raided the site with a search warrant, the 12 detainees were transferred to the Bethioua police station, about 40 kilometres from Oran.

During the operation, police seized all Christian literature, mobile phones and identity cards belonging to those present, sources said. The sources were not identified for security reasons. The women were released to be questioned the following morning, while the men were held until late at night, with some reportedly remaining in custody until 3 a.m.

Algeria Police Seize Christian Materials

The Christians fear the detainees could be charged under Ordinance 06-03 governing non-Muslim worship in Algeria. According to the report, the law heavily criminalises collective worship outside the officially approved state framework or any action deemed to 'shake the faith of a Muslim'.

The 2006 law provides for prison sentences of two to five years and fines of 500,000 to 1 million Algerian dinars , equivalent in the report to $3,745 to $7,490. It also requires non-Muslim worship buildings to be licensed, but all applications to do so have remained unattended, according to the report.

The arrested Christians had not yet been brought before a prosecutor, who would then quickly take them to court for judgment, the report said.

Algeria's Christian Community Under Pressure

Open Doors has reported that nearly all of the 47 official churches affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) have received administrative closure orders or been sealed by authorities. The organisation also says more than 50 Christians have been prosecuted for their faith in recent years.

The 4 September raid follows cases cited in the report involving Christian leaders. In 2021, authorities convicted Pastor Rachid Seighir and Nouh Hamimi and closed their bookstore.

Hamid Soudad received a five-year prison sentence for 'insulting Islam' related to a Facebook caricature, according to the report. He was imprisoned from January 2021 to July 23 as part of that sentence before ultimately being pardoned in 2023.

EPA Vice-President Youcef Ourahmane was sentenced on appeal in May 2024 to one year in prison for organising a spiritual retreat, after initially receiving a two-year sentence and a fine. Pastor Ourahmane is also identified as the founder of the Timothee School and the L'Ayeida refuge centre.

Christians in Béjaïa, Tizi Ouzou and Bouira said authorities had been seeking to permanently resolve the 'church issue' over the previous month. According to those Christians, special envoys were sent to meet leaders not affiliated with the EPA and encourage congregants to join a new Christian association project intended to replace it.

The report says the manoeuvre aims to orchestrate a reorganisation under strict state control, potentially allowing places of worship to reopen subject to conditions imposed by the government.

Open Doors estimates that Algeria has about 150,000 Christians, representing 0.3 per cent of its 48 million people. Algeria ranked 20th on Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.