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Proselytism gets Christian in Algeria two-year sentence

According to Compass Direct News, a Christian man in Algeria was convicted for proselytism on April 2. Just last week, he was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence. It's just part of an ongoing crackdown on 26 of the 50 Protestant churches in Algeria, reports MNN.

The sentence actually violates Article 18 of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 18 protects and affirms the right of citizens to show their faith publicly.

A majority of Algeria is Muslim, with just about one percent of the population claiming Christianity. Generally they are free to practice their faith, but there are sometimes outside pressures toward Islam from family and friends and Muslim extremists.

The Algerian Christian, who chose to remain anonymous, is planning on appealing the sentence along with the 100,000 dinar fine.

[04/15/2008]

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