Compass Direct News, a Christian news agency, said the Human Rights Council review in Geneva cast the issue of "religious rights abuses in Algeria" into the spotlight.
Under a religious law adopted in 2006, anyone attempting to convert a Muslim to another religion could face up to five years imprisonment and a 1 million dinar ($15,430) fine. Producing, possessing or distributing material for this purpose warrants the same punishment.
In one of the latest incidents, an Algerian Christian was handed a two-year suspended sentence on April 9 for giving a Bible to an undercover police officer. The written verdict convicting the Christian for "proselytism" was delivered on April 2 by a court in Tiaret, 150 miles (240 kilometers) southwest of Algiers, Christian said. .
The believer, who wished to remain anonymous, gave the Bible to the policeman who posed as someone interested in Christianity and insisted in obtaining a copy of the Scriptures, said Voice Of the Martyrs, a group representing reportedly persecuted Chrjstians. He plans to appeal the suspended sentence, which includes a fine of 100,000 dinars ($1540). Christians said.
VATICAN CRITICS
In Geneva, a Vatican representative questioned the delegates on how Algeria’s religious legislation could be reconciled with religious freedom, enshrined in Article 36 of Algeria’s constitution.
"[The decree] de facto has limited the rights of all other religions except the majority religion," Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi said in comments published by Compass Direct News.
Algerian delegate Lazhar Soualem reportedly said in response that the 2006 decree had been enacted to stop "people who are not skilled, and who are not qualified and who are not authorized to exercise religious rights."
However several church leaders have said the law targets churches and a growing number of missionaries and evangelists in the country.
I would like to know who the author of the 2006 religious law is.