Evangelicals Now

World News

• Algeria: turning to Christ

  Bible Society’s Newswatch (The Tablet)

  Due to their disillusionment with the Arab Spring and the rise of violent Islam, thousands of Muslims in Algeria are requesting Bibles and becoming Christians, it was reported in May.

  Ali Khidri, executive secretary for the Bible Society in Algeria, said that ‘hundreds’ of people every month were turning up at his office in Algiers requesting a Bible, and that many more were going to churches to enquire about the Christian faith. According to Bible Society in Algeria, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 Christians in Algeria – an increase from just 2,000 30 years ago.

• Burma: sentenced

  Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

  On 2 June, Htin Lin Oo, the former information officer of the National League for Democracy (NLD), was given a two-year prison sentence following his conviction on charges of insulting religion.

  Htin Lin Oo was charged after a speech he made on 23 October 2014 criticising Buddhist extremists for inciting hatred and violence. A Buddhist himself, he argued that the extremist Buddhist nationalists’ behaviour was contrary to the teachings of Buddhism, but was charged with insulting Buddhism as a result.