Four Algerian Christians from the same family are scheduled to appear in court on 6 November on charges of “inciting a Muslim to change religion”.
In July 2018, a 40-year-old Muslim woman whose husband had converted to Christianity filed a complaint against her husband and against a Christian family, accusing them of “pressuring her to become a Christian”. The Christian family had attempted to ease the conflict between the couple.
The Christian family members were first ordered to appear in court in the Kabylie region of northern Algeria on 9 October, but the hearing has now been postponed until November.
Conversion from Islam is not a criminal offence in Algeria, but those who witness to Muslims potentially face a five-year jail sentence. Under Algerian law, any action which “incites, constrains or utilises means of seduction tending to convert a Muslim to another religion” is illegal.
