Algerian authorities continue to arrest Christians while churches remain closed
In January, Algerian authorities arrested another Christian man after preaching outside of a church and distributing bibles. The man, Mohammed Derrab, remains in detention for anti-conversion charges brought against him.
The arrest occurred in Tizi Ouzou, a province in Algeria that has already seen several church closures, including a new threatened closure from the provincial governor. Due to the closures, Brother Derrab, an elder at the closed Tafat church in Tizi Ouzou, preached outside of his church on January 27 and gave one listener a bible, resulting in his arrest the next day.
Authorities searched the elder’s house afterwards and confiscated his collection of bibles.
During the trial, an Algerian judge sentenced Brother Derrab to 18 months in prison. Brother Derrab is currently detained in prison awaiting his next trial date to appeal the judgment next month.
Source: persecution.org
