Worrying about the latest Islamic laws of " People's Democratic Republic of Algeria "...
The Tiaret court demanded two years in prison for six people accused of illegal exercise of a non-Muslim worship. An educator converted to Catholicism is also awaiting her verdict
The prosecutor of the correctional court of Tiaret, in the southwest of Algeria, demanded Tuesday, May 27, two years in prison against six young Algerian converts accused of illegal exercise of a non-Muslim worship.
The prosecutor also requested a fine of 500.000 dinars (about 5.000 euros) against each of the defendants, who appeared in a new trial of Christian converts.
The six young people had been arrested by the Algerian police at the exit of a house where, according to the accusation, they had just held a mass without authorization.
Verdict postponed for Habiba Kouider
In addition, it was learned that the court of Tiaret decided Tuesday to postpone its verdict in the trial of an Algerian woman converted to Christianity and to order additional information.
Habiba Kouider, 37, was appearing for "preaching a non-Muslim cult without authorization".
The prosecutor of Tiaret had requested on May 20 three years in prison against this educator, arrested in a public transport bus in possession of ten bibles, according to the president of the Protestant Church of Algeria Mustapha Krim, or 25 copies, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The exercise of a worship in Algeria - Moslem or non-Moslem - is subjected to a double official authorization, the first designating the preacher and the second fixing the place of the worship.
"Sad" and "shocking" for Rama Yade
Sunday, the Secretary of State for Human Rights, Rama Yade, defended Habiba Kouider. "It's sad, it's shocking, first of all because it contravenes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", which proclaims in its article 18 the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, she had told Radio J.
"In accordance with article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in accordance with Algeria's tradition of hospitality, I believe that it would be good to have a gesture of clemency", she said. added.
Previous case of a French Catholic priest
"Christianity does not threaten Islam in Algeria," said Rama Yade. "Christians in Algeria are 1% of the population, ie about 11.500 people, 32 churches compared to 32.000 mosques, so I don't think there is a religious threat."
The Secretary of State for Human Rights noted that it was "not the first case of this type", referring to that of a French Catholic priest, Pierre Wallez, sentenced in April to two months in prison suspended sentence for proselytism, by the Tlemcen Court of Appeal (western Algeria).
"But I have confidence in the tolerance of the Algerian people," said Rama Yade.
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