Algeria, North Africa
Population: 33,333,216
Christians: <1%
Dominant Religion: Sunni Islam
Persecution Ranking: 25th
Political Leader: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Religious Freedom in Constitution: No
After a civil conflict during the 1990s, there are some extreme Islamist groups that continue to operate in Algeria, although on a much reduced scale. President Bouteflika is widely credited with bringing about this improvement and was re-elected president in 2004. The Christian Church was vibrant in this land during the early centuries AD. However, it largely died out with the coming of the Arab Empire and Islam in the seventh and eighth centuries. Today, God is rebuilding His Church in Algeria. The government accepts the registration of fellowships whose members have chosen to follow Jesus. The biggest challenge for these Christians concerns the education of their children. The state education system provides religious education for nurturing in the Muslim faith. International law states that parents should have the right to choose the religious education given to their children.
