An Algerian
court has
convicted and
sentenced in absentia a pastor and another
Christian to two years in prison and a
heavy fine. Pastor Rachid Seighir and
Nouh Hamimi were accused of ‘shaking
the faith’ of Muslims by selling Christian
literature at their now-closed bookstore,
where
Seighir was
the manager
and
Hamimi a salesman.
The men only learned of their conviction
from a note slipped under the door of their
church building in Oran, which said they
now
face prison and a fine of 500,000
Algerian dinars (about £2,700).
Belarus: forcibly evicted
Forum 18
A 30-strong force of bailiffs, police, Housing
Repair and Utilities Association officials
deployed an angle grinder and a crowbar
to gain access and evict people from New
Life Church in Minsk. Up to 70 church
members were praying inside at the time.
Officials said they were enforcing a court
order. Aleksey Petrukovich, who signed it,
refused to explain why the action happened,
and why force was necessary.
‘I am indignant. This is a hostile takeover
of church property with the excuse of official
papers,’ said Sergiy Melyanets, a member of
another church, who witnessed the eviction.
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