Algeria: First Trial Against A Christian Convert

[Ikutiera]

(ANSAmed) - ALGIERS, MAY 21 - For the first time in Algeria a trial against an Algerian woman converted to Christianity was launched yesterday in Tiaret (400 km west of Algiers). The woman was accused of having "practised a non-Muslim prayer without authorisation". In fact, the girl was not arrested while praying, but on a bus and because of some gospels that she had with her. "The charge however is not for proselytism, for the first time," daily El Watan writes adding "the liberty to practice freely the Christian faith is really brought into question". According to the daily, Habiba, under 30 and converted to Christianity for four years, would not renounce her religion just to avoid the court. "Either it is the mosque or the court," Tiaret's prosecutor intimidated her during the first conversation, as El Watan writes. "Did they make you drink from the water which will carry you straight to paradise?", the judge in court asked yesterday. Habiba was arrested on a bus heading to Oran. The police discovered in her backpack twelve religious books. The girl defended herself saying that these were personal texts and were not intended for other people. The Religious Affairs Ministry instituted a civil action and the prosecutor demanded yesterday a three-year prison sentence. The sentence will be pronounced on Tuesday. Together with the woman, another six members of Tiaret's Christian community accused of proselytism will stand trial. (ANSAmed).

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