Algeria's complicated religious situation

Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Algeria on April 13 for a four-day visit , marking the first papal visit to the country. While the pontiff has visited Algeria twice before, once in 2003 and again in 2014 as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, his return as head of the Catholic Church comes against a backdrop of mounting restrictions for the country’s Christian minority.

To better understand the situation, Omnes spoke with Constance Avenel, Advocacy Officer for Freedom of Religion at the European Center for Law and Justice (ECLJ). Having recently published a report on the treatment of Christians in Algeria, The Algerian government also helped organize a parallel conference on March 18 at the United Nations Human Rights Council, which addressed the discrimination suffered by Algerian Christians.

A legal gray area

Algeria officially enshrines Islam as a state religion, but non-Muslim communities operate in what Avenel describes as a “precarious legal gray zone.” He explains that a 2006 government ordinance and its implementing decrees allow authorities to restrict Christian practice without explicitly banning it.

Churches can be denied registration, administratively closed down, or have measures taken against them under technical pretexts, such as urban planning or safety regulations. “In fact, the authorities have closed several churches for health reasons,” he says, a legal ambiguity that discourages new initiatives and forces many communities to resort to self-censorship.

The distribution of Bibles illustrates this dynamic well. “Bibles are not officially banned, but their importation into the country is subject to administrative controls,” says Avenel.

Pastor Youssef Ourahmane, vice-president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), confirms that the organization faces “major difficulties” in importing Bibles, while their distribution can be interpreted as proselytizing, which could constitute a crime under Algerian law. 

The court case against Habiba Kouider, initiated shortly after the 2006 ordinance for carrying Bibles, illustrates how even the most common religious practices can have legal consequences.

Legal restrictions and social pressures

Christians in Algeria are constrained not only by administrative regulations, but also by broader social pressures. Converts from Islam are subject to intense scrutiny, as apostasy is often considered a betrayal by family and community.

Avenel describes this as part of a context in which non-Muslim religious practice is not only restricted by law, but is also subject to social surveillance, especially during Ramadan, when public observance of Islam is highly visible.

“Employers are strongly encouraged, and sometimes even forced, to report Christian employees to the authorities, which contributes to significant social stigmatization,” explains Avenel, highlighting how state and social pressures intertwine to limit the economic and social mobility of Christians.

Institutionally, both Protestant and Catholic communities are under constant scrutiny. The EPA has witnessed the closure of dozens of churches, while Catholic humanitarian organizations, such as Caritas Algeria, were closed by the Government despite the fact that their services benefited all communities, regardless of their religious denomination.

The government's selective application of the law highlights a broader political principle: only a state-controlled view of religion is tolerated, often justified under the pretext of protecting national sovereignty.

This came to public light when, in 2010, the former Minister of Religious Affairs, Bouabdellah Ghlamallah, stated, “No one wants religious minorities in Algeria, because that could serve as a pretext for foreign powers to interfere in the internal affairs of the country under the pretext of protecting the rights of minorities.” Ghlamallah also stated that “an Algerian can only be a Muslim.”. 

This reflects the mentality of the government, which leaves little room for religious diversity. As a result, churches prioritize presence and service over expansion, focusing on education, healthcare and interfaith dialogue rather than evangelism. Even these modest initiatives remain at risk of closure or restriction, highlighting the fragility of institutional space for minority communities. 

The papal visit: symbolism and constraints

The arrival of Pope Leo XIV has symbolic significance and poses practical challenges. International attention may provide temporary protection and visibility, but it does not guarantee religious reform.

“In reality, President Tebboune will be content to present the Pope with a ‘window dressing’ Christianity...and will carefully avoid addressing the real issues,” warns Avenel, noting that Protestants, in particular, may have little presence during the visit.

Avenel also stresses that the Pope's itinerary, centered on iconic sites in Catholic history such as Notre-Dame d'Afrique Cathedral and Sacré-Coeur Basilica, will be carefully planned to convey a message of religious tolerance without running up against systemic restrictions.

Historical precedents highlight the limits of these gestures. When Pope Francis visited neighboring Morocco in 2019, King Mohammed VI referred to Christians as “guests,” reinforcing their marginalized status in society.

Algeria operates with a similar logic, although, in reality, Christians were in Algeria long before Muslims. State authorities barely acknowledge the country's pre-Islamic Christian roots. The papal visit, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Tibhirine monks, would highlight the symbolic stakes for Algeria's Christian community, offering a unique opportunity for the international community to take a close look at systemic repression.

A way forward: international pressure and domestic reforms

Avenel stresses that “no major legal reform will occur without profound political change,” and points to the structural constraints inherent in the management of religious freedom in Algeria.

The recommendations of the UN conference she helped organize under the ECLJ called for constitutional recognition of freedom of conscience, the legal functioning of Protestant churches, the revision of penal provisions on proselytizing and the reopening of institutions such as Caritas Algeria. The involvement of international bodies, including a visit by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, is considered essential to exert constant pressure.

Geopolitical considerations notwithstanding, Algeria is a major energy supplier to Europe, a partner of the United States in the fight against terrorism and a major buyer of arms from Russia. None of these international players would want to upset the Algerian government for merely guaranteeing religious freedom to its Christian minority.

For the country's Christians, the Pope's visit represents both a hope and a reminder of their continuing vulnerability. Despite the legal ambiguity, social pressure and institutional fragility that characterize their daily lives, restrict religious freedom and impede charitable activity, Algeria's Christian community continues to resist. It is sustained by its resilience, international solidarity and the hope that global attention will translate into effective protection.