Algerian Authorities Arrest 12 Christians During Worship Service Raid

On September 4, Algerian special forces raided a worship service at the House of Refuge shelter in L’Ayaida, located near Oran. Twelve Christians were detained during the operation, which authorities conducted under suspicion of holding an unauthorized, non-Muslim religious gathering. Police seized mobile phones, identity cards, and Christian literature from the site. While the women were released for questioning the following morning, the men were held by police until late that night or early the next day.

The shelter, which provides support for vulnerable women, had previously been ordered to close its administrative operations in 2019, though residents continued to meet for worship in a private apartment on the premises. The detainees now face potential charges under Ordinance 06-03, a 2006 law that regulates non-Muslim worship and carries penalties of two to five years in prison and significant fines for unauthorized religious activities.

Advocacy groups note that this incident reflects a broader trend of judicial pressure on the Christian community in Algeria. According to Open Doors, authorities have issued closure orders for nearly all 47 churches affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria, and more than 50 Christians have faced legal prosecution in recent years.