In Algeria, nearly all Protestant churches have been closed by the authorities, and now thousands of Christians are forced to gather in secret, in homes, on the streets, or in small informal groups.

This is stated in a report by the European Centre for Law and Justice, published in 2026.

According to the document, the closure of churches has been taking place systematically since 2017 and is linked to a strict state policy toward non Muslim religious communities. Experts note that the country’s existing legal system contradicts international standards of freedom of religion, the Christian Megaportal InVictory reports.

Despite the fact that Algeria’s Constitution formally guarantees freedom of religion, in practice Christians face serious restrictions. Since 2006, the authorities have closed at least 58 Protestant churches, including nearly all congregations belonging to the Protestant Church of Algeria. By early 2025, the last evangelical churches had effectively ceased their activities.

As a result, the religious life of Christians has changed. Worship services are now held in private homes, in temporary premises, or even outdoors. Some believers gather in so called “house churches,” while others meet in remote locations, for example among olive groves.

Algerian legislation requires that all non Muslim worship services take place only with state permission. However, as Christians note, obtaining such permission is virtually impossible. The 2006 law requires that religious meetings be held only in officially approved buildings, while the 2012 law mandates compulsory registration of religious organizations. At the same time, according to the report, the authorities effectively approve none of the applications to open new places of worship.

Because of the lack of official status, even small prayer meetings may be considered a violation of the law. Pastors and believers are prosecuted for conducting services without permission. Police carry out raids, detain participants in gatherings, and interrogate them. In one recent case, a group of Christians was detained for several hours after a prayer meeting.

At the same time, the number of Christians in Algeria has grown in recent years. Estimates put their number at around 156,000 people, approximately 0.3 percent of the country’s population.