ALGERIA: Group of men burn bibles and hymn books in an attack on Protestant church
Record ID:
573691
ALGERIA: Group of men burn bibles and hymn books in an attack on Protestant church
- Title: ALGERIA: Group of men burn bibles and hymn books in an attack on Protestant church
- Date: 14th January 2010
- Summary: TIZI OUZOU, ALGERIA (JANUARY 11, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FURNITURE BURNING OUTSIDE CHURCH MAN INSIDE CHURCH MEN STANDING BY DOORWAY BURNT RELIGIOUS BOOKS ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF MAN LOOKING THROUGH BOOKS MAN HOLDING UP BOOK ENTITLED 'DIEU ET LES ANGES' ("GOD AND THE ANGELS") MORE OF BURNT BOOKS ON THE GROUND POSTER / PAN TO BURNT BOOKS ON GROUND MAN GOING THROUGH SALVAGED BOOKS VARIOUS OF SALVAGED BOOKS IN BOX VARIOUS OF MEN SURROUNDED BY THE RUBBLE PASTOR MUSTAPHA KRIRECHE WALKING THROUGH (SOUNDBITE) (French) MUSTAPHA KRIRECHE, CHURCH PASTOR, SAYING: "A group of people destroyed and burnt everything. They said that, the reason is that, it is a land of Islam and we do not have the right to exist as Christians." CLOSE OF KRIRECHE'S FACE (SOUNDBITE) (French) MUSTAPHA KRIRECHE, CHURCH PASTOR, SAYING: "We are asking questions about the law concerning the freedom to practice religion. If it exists, why is it not applied? We would like to ask this question to the authorities: Why do you not ensure that this law is applied?" KRIRECHE STANDING WITH SOME MEN KRIRECHE AND MEN CLOSING THE DOORS OF THE CHURCH PRIEST CHALAH SALAH IN OFFICE SALAH OPENING BIBLE VARIOUS OF SALAH READING BIBLE (SOUNDBITE) (French) SALAH CHALAH, PRIEST OF THE CHURCH OF THE FULL GOSPEL OF TIZI OUZOU, SAYING: "I am disappointed because of what happened and also some believers are affected by a feeling of insecurity, which is not a good sign and it is not good for the reputation of our country, which is supposed to be protecting Christians. The law also authorised us to practice our religion. But, we noticed that some people have become an obstacle, preventing the Christians from coming to church. It's a shame." DRAWING OF SOME SYMBOLS ON THE WALL SIGN READING "LA LUMIERE DE LA VIE" (THE LIGHT OF LIFE") (SOUNDBITE) (French) SALAH CHALAH, PRIEST OF THE CHURCH OF THE FULL GOSPEL OF TIZI OUZOU, SAYING: "We are old enough to respect the other person, in spite of our differences. All of us are Algerians, whether Muslims, Christian, atheist or Buddhist. All of us are born in this land and I believe that we are fully Algerian. We have the right to practice our religion according to our convictions." CHALAH TALKING TO TWO OTHER MEN
- Embargoed: 29th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Algeria
- Country: Algeria
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA532OE6YVMUQ67LLG83LA68PVE
- Story Text: A crowd of men in mostly Muslim Algeria burned Bibles and hymn books in an attack on a Protestant church, prompting the congregation to ask the government for protection from Muslim hardliners.
The attack in the city of Tizi-Ouzou, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the Algerian capital, came a few days after a spate of attacks on Christian targets in Malaysia and Egypt -- though there was no evidence of a direct link.
A group of Islamists broke into the church, housed in an apartment block, late at night on Saturday (January 9), pastor Mustafa Krireche said on Monday (January 11).
The 41-year-old pastor told Reuters that the men came and set fire to things, thinking they would leave.
"A group of people destroyed and burnt everything. They said that, the reason is that, it is a land of Islam and we do not have the right to exist as Christians," Krireche said.
Under Algerian law, all faiths are allowed to practise if they meet certain conditions. But there has been tension between the Protestant community in Tizi-Ouzou and officials who say the church is not licensed as a place of worship.
"We are asking questions about the law concerning the freedom to practice religion. If it exists, why is it not applied? We would like to ask this question to the authorities: Why do you not ensure that this law is applied?," Krireche said.
Protestant groups have been accused of proselytizing, which is illegal in Algeria, though their leaders deny it. Several Protestants were prosecuted last year for carrying large quantities of Bibles or converting people to Christianity.
Salah Chalah is Priest of the Church of the Full Gospel of Tizi Ouzou. He said he is disappointed by what happened.
"Some believers are affected by a feeling of insecurity, which is not a good sign and it is not good for the reputation of our country, which is supposed to be protecting Christians. The law also authorised us to practice our religion. But, we noticed that some people have become an obstacle, preventing the Christians from coming to church. It's a shame," he said.
Algerian security forces are fighting an insurgency by al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants. The insurgents mount sporadic bomb attacks and ambushes, though the violence has subsided significantly in the last few years.
A Reuters reporter who visited the church on Monday saw the burned remains of Bibles and religious books. A wooden crucifix lay on the blackened floor.
The pastor said the attack was the culmination of a long-running conflict with local Islamists who were upset that men and women mixed at church gatherings and who alleged the Protestants were trying to convert Muslim children.
Algeria, a Sunni Muslim country of 35 million people, has a history of religious tolerance.
The Catholic church, introduced by former colonial power France, is well-established however the Protestant community -- which says it has 900 followers in Algeria -- is more recent and many Algerians view its activities with suspicion. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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