Algeria: 12 Christians arrested during worship service raid

Algerian special forces raided a worship service at the House of Refuge, a humanitarian shelter in L’Ayaida near Oran, on September 4. Twelve Christians were arrested during the operation on suspicion of holding an unauthorized non-Muslim religious gathering.

The shelter, which supports vulnerable women and their families, had a worship hall closed by authorities in October 2019. Since then, congregants have reportedly met in a separate apartment on the premises. During the raid, police executed a search warrant and confiscated identity cards, mobile phones, and Christian literature.

The detainees were taken to the Bethioua police station. While the women were released with instructions to return for questioning, the men were held late into the night. There are concerns the group could face charges under Ordinance 06-03, a 2006 law that criminalizes collective worship outside the state-approved framework. Convictions under this law can result in two to five years of imprisonment and significant fines.