Algerian police arrest 12 Christians during worship service in Oran

On September 4, Algerian special forces raided a worship service at a humanitarian shelter in L’Ayaida, located east of Oran. Authorities arrested all 12 Christians present, citing suspicions of conducting an unauthorized, non-Muslim religious gathering. The detainees were taken to the Bethioua police station, where their personal belongings, including mobile phones and religious literature, were confiscated. While the women were released for questioning the following morning, the men were held until late into the night.

Local sources indicate that the shelter, known as the House of Refuge, had been under surveillance prior to the raid. The Christians involved now face the possibility of prosecution under Ordinance 06-03, a 2006 law that regulates non-Muslim worship in Algeria. This legislation mandates that non-Muslim religious activities occur only in state-approved facilities, though applications for such licenses have reportedly gone unaddressed by the government. Violations of this ordinance can result in significant fines and prison sentences ranging from two to five years.

This incident follows a broader trend of administrative pressure on the Christian community in Algeria. According to Open Doors, nearly all 47 churches affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria have faced closure orders or have been sealed by authorities in recent years.