The organisation linking 45 Protestant churches in the African country, l’Eglise Protestante d’Algérie (EPA), made the plea after the total number of churches closed since November 2017 rose to four.
“As full citizens, we call on the highest authorities in the country to ensure that all the fundamental rights of the citizen are protected, regardless of their religious affiliation”, the EPA said in a statement.
A number of other churches have reported to have received notifications to close down immediately.
While the EPA had been officially recognised by the government since 1974, new laws introduced in 2012 meant that it had to re-register.
Despite fulfilling all requirements to when it reapplied in 2013, the EPA remains without official legal status as it is yet to have received a response for its application.
The keyhole of a closed down church sealed with wax in Oran
Christian advocacy group Middle East Concern said the treatment of churches and Christians in recent months signals a “coordinated campaign of intensified action against churches by the governing authorities”.
Last month, three pastors from Algeria visited the UK to ask politicians to lobby the Algerian government to stop its current crackdown on its Christian minority.
The pastors want to see the de-regulation of places of worship,…
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