The laws that target Christians in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco are just one example among many of how Christian persecution often takes the form of legal harassment and government sanction, not just in these four countries but around the world.
The persecution of Christians worldwide is a tragedy of catastrophic proportions, as we have seen the unprecedented scale of anti-Christian persecution in Asia and the impossible future of Christians in the Middle East. The situation for Christians in Africa is just as serious, if not more so, yet the world at large remains indifferent to the plight of Christians worldwide.
“North African Laws Leave Christians Vulnerable,” International Christian Concern, March 27, 2021:
03/27/2021 North Africa (International Christian Concern) – Ten years after the Arab Spring, minorities in North African countries continue to experience religious persecution and oppression. According to independent research by an Egyptian, religious minorities Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco suffer from harsh and disproportionate laws….
Contempt of religion laws in North Africa typically safeguard Islam. Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria all have blasphemy articles within their penal codes. Though Tunisia does not specifically site insulting Islam in its laws, articles outlining offenses against good morals are often utilized as essentially blasphemy laws, only protecting Islamic beliefs.
As a result of these criminal articles, Christians face prison sentences, fines, and day-to-day discrimination for their faith. In Tunisia, Christians have been interrogated for having public religious conversations and even foreign missionaries were arrested. According to a second report completed by the Attalaki Association, Christians are typically perceived as second-class citizens and particularly feel vulnerable due to the lack of protection for freedom of religion. Christians experience hate speech, community violence, and extremism. Without the necessary legal protection, Christians are exposed to marginalization.
