An Algerian woman could face up to three years in prison for converting from Islam to Christianity.The country's public prosecutor has accused Habiba Qawider of abandoning the Islamic faith without the permission of government authorities, reported Arab TV network al-Arabiya quoting evangelical pastor Mustafa Karim.
The 37 year-old is currently facing charges in a court case in the town of Tiaret, 400 kilometres west of capital Algiers.
The young woman was arrested at the beginning of April by police who stopped her while she was travelling aboard a bus from Tiaret to Orano.
Police reportedly handcuffed her after finding 10 copies of the Bible in her handbag.
In Algeria, Christian churches must seek special permits from the Ministry for Religious Affairs to practise their activities.
Under a law passed in 2006, Algerians must also have a permit to practise any religion that is different to Islam.
As well as Habiba, six others who converted to Christianity could also end up behind the bars after they are prosecuted in a separate court case that begins on 27 May.
They have been accused of spreading religious propaganda since they were stopped by police two weeks ago.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs there are around 11,000 Christians in a country of 33 million people.
According the Algerian media, Habiba has become a symbol because she was not proselytising but only practising another religion.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce