Nouslife: Algeria set to pressure Christians

05 September 2006

Algeria set to pressure Christians

It seems that Christians are legally threatend in Algeria which seems set to undo good work at a governance level over the last few years. People are being urged to write to Algerian representatives in their own countries. The link at the heading will take you to a page outlining the issues and this link to a sample letter and addresses. My own letter goes like this:

Dear Sirs,

I am concerned to hear that, after good progress being made in Algeria over the last five years, Algeria seems set to make the lives of some of its citizens more difficult and dangerous. The new regulations (ref. Ordonnance no. 06 - 03 - 29 Moharram 1427) relating to religious activities of non-Muslims which were signed by the President on 28/02/206 and seem to contain provisions which are both legally anomolous and imperil the status, well-being and even lives of non-Muslim Algerians.

Article four, which outlaws religious discrimination seems a really good start, and yet it is contradicted by the content and implications of articles 5-16. The latter articles have the effect of discriminating againts non-Muslims by making them liable to penalties that are not applicable to Muslims and by making non-Muslim religious groups subject to restrictions that do not also apply to Muslim groups. These things clearly contravene the Algerian constitution (articles 29, 32 and 41), not to mention article 18 of the UDHR 1948 and articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 to both of which Algeria as a signitory.

It is disturbing to see non-Muslims and converts from Islam treated or legislatively threatened in this way. It is clearly a backward step for Algeria that loyal and hardworking citizens should be reduced to the effective status of second class citizenship in respect of their freedoms to opinion and association.