Algeria's Religious Restrictions:

In response to increasing political tensions, the Algerian government has intensified its crackdown on churches within the nation of 42 million people. Recent measures stipulate that house churches can now only have a maximum of ten people per gathering, building upon the closure of at least 16 churches last year, a trend initiated during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Alongside these restrictions, reports indicate that Algerian church leaders have faced imprisonment in the latest wave of government actions.

The situation for Algerian Christians has grown more challenging since the Hamas-Israeli war, with the government perceiving them as supporters of Israel and as agents of foreign and western influences that undermine the nation's Islamic national unity. 

Further complicating matters is the fact that the majority of Algerian Christians belong to the Kabyle ethnic group, which is associated with a separatist movement challenging the authority of the Algerian central government. In the midst of this complexity, the right of Algerian Christians to peaceably gather for religious meetings faces significant hurdles.

It is essential for the Algerian government to make a clear distinction between the peaceful practice of faith by Algerian Christians and the political movements in the region. Despite the ongoing political turmoil, upholding the right of Christians in Algeria to assemble for religious purposes is crucial, given the longstanding history of Christianity in the country.

_{Source: ICC news}