Posted on 15^th February 2013

Greetings in the name of Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Algerian Christians have requested our prayers about the situation of a believer appealing against a conviction for evangelising.

On 4^th July 2012 a court in Tigzirt tried and convicted Mohamed Ibaouene, in absentia, of “inciting a Muslim with pressure to change his religion”. The judge sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 dinars (approximately US$635). It was not until 11^th December that Mohamed was informed that a complaint had been made against him and that he had been charged and convicted. (Mohamed had married and moved to a different town.) On 15^th December he submitted an appeal.

At a hearing held on 13^th February, an appeal court judge upheld the conviction, but adjusted the sentence. The jail term was rescinded but the fine was doubled. A further appeal is planned.

This case has been brought under Algeria’s law of 2006 on non-Muslim worship.

Algerian Christians supporting Mohamed request our prayers that:

a.      Mohamed will know the peace and presence of Jesus each day

b.      He will be cleared of any wrong doing

c.       The law concerning non-Muslim worship will be repealed or significantly amended

d.      All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

May be circulated to general mailing lists, outside organizations, and quoted from freely in reports citing “Middle East Concern” as the source of the information.