Three Algerian Christians Acquitted

BosNewsLife and Compass Direct both yesterday reported on the acquittal in a court in Algeria of three Christians who had been charged with blaspheming Islam and threatening a member of their congregation who re-converted to Islam. The ruling by a court in Ain El-Turck apparently came because of a lack of evidence against Youssef Ourahmane, Rachid Seghir and Hamid Ramdani. Responding more broadly to international pressure, in the last few months Algeria has eased its campaign against evangelical Christians who have often been charged under a 2006 presidential decree that limits worship services to government-approved buildings and prohibits proselytizing Muslims. (See prior related posting.)