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Speak out for Algerian Christians' right to believe

On 25 May 2011 Karim Siaghi from Oran, Algeria, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 200,000 Algerian dinars (approx. £1,700). On 22 May the Governor of Béjaïa Province, Algeria, ordered all churches of the Protestant Church of Algeria in his area to close. February 2013 saw another believer given a hefty fine for sharing the Gospel.

A further violation of Algerian Christians' right to freedom of religion is Ordinance 06-03, a law regulating the religious activities of non-Muslims. Read about the issues and campaign so far »

Algerian Christians have protested against Ordinance 06-03 but they need you to add your voice today. Please write to the Algerian Ambassador below expressing your concern about Karim's sentence and Ordinance 06-03. Please fill in your details below. Mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk.
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His Excellency Mr Amar Abba
Ambassador
Embassy of Algeria
54 Holland Park
London
W11 3RS

Subject

Your Excellency

Thank you for meeting with Naomi Long MP and representatives from Open Doors in March 2012. During that meeting I understand that you indicated that the Embassy’s role is to pass on messages to your government. I respectfully petition you to inform your government of my concerns.

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1989. Article 18 of this Covenant guarantees freedom of religion and belief for all human beings without discrimination. Further, the Constitution of Algeria guarantees fundamental freedoms and human rights to all Algerian citizens. Despite these positive provisions, I recently learned that on 22 May 2011, Mr. Hamou Touhami, the Governor of Béjaïa Province, ordered the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) to close all of its seven churches in the province. This order referred to Ordinance 06-03, which regulates non-Muslim worship. This Ordinance discriminates against certain religions and thus violates Algeria's commitments under the ICCPR.

Further, I would like to highlight the case of Karim Siaghi from Oran, who was accused of proselytism and blasphemy. On 25 May 2011, he was found guilty and received the maximum sentence of five years in prison and a 200,000 Algerian dinar fine. His appeal was finally heard more than one year later – in mid-November 2012. However, the next court hearing has yet to be decided and Karim is still living with no idea as to whether he is to be acquitted or taken to prison. I am shocked by this case. I trust that the Supreme Court will hear the appeal without further delay, overturn the ruling and acquit Karim Siaghi of all charges, thereby showing that Algeria guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of expression for all its citizens.

I appreciate all the positive steps that have been taken in the past, but I hope that Algeria will continue to lead the way among the Arab nations in demonstrating that all citizens in Algeria can in reality enjoy the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief as laid down in the Constitution and in more detail in the ICCPR. Nothing would demonstrate this more than his Excellency, the President of Algeria, rescinding Ordinance 06-03 without delay, as it severely limits the legitimate and constitutional activities of members of non-Muslim religions in Algeria.

Thank you for your time and attention.

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Speak out for Algerian Christians' right to believe

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