Rachid Seighir and Nouh Hamimi are appealing their sentences for producing, storing, or disseminating printed documents, audiovisuals, or using any other means with the intent to undermine the faith of a Muslim.” This illustrates the insecurity and fear with which many non-Christian governing authorities the world over regard Christianity. They are aware of how our Lord Jesus Christ can transform souls, and they work hard to prevent the message of the Holy Gospel from reaching their people.
The modern nation of Algeria was once a renowned center of Orthodox Christianity. The holy martyr St. Cyprian of Carthage, Blessed Augustine of Hippo, and many other saints hailed from North Africa. But in 647, the first Arab invaders arrived, and the Islamization of the area began. Ultimately, Christianity was entirely wiped out in North Africa. Now, as this story demonstrates, it is returning, to the immense consternation of authorities.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in Algeria, see here.
“Algerian Christians Proselytizing Appeal Delayed,” International Christian Concern, April 28, 2021:
04/28/2021 Algeria (International Christian Concern) – Algerian Christians Pastor Rachid Seighir and his bookshop assistant Nouh Hamami had their court hearing back one month and will now appeal their two-year prison sentences on May 16. On February 27, the two men were convicted in absentia of proselytizing and sentenced to two years in prison and fined. They were supposed to have their cases heard on April 18.
Pastor Rachid leads Oran City Church and also owns a bookstore where Nouh Hamami worked as his employee. When the store was raided in September 2017, the Christian material authorities found was used as justification for their conviction. Their proselytizing charge came under an Algerian law regarding non-Muslim worship that does not allow for “producing, storing, or disseminating printed documents, audiovisuals, or using any other means with the intent to undermine the faith of a Muslim.”
Another Christian, Hamid Soudad, recently had his five-year prison sentence on blasphemy charges upheld at his appeal case on March 22….
