The US-based human rights group International Christian Concern (ICC), with Website www.persecution.org, told BosNewsLife that an Algerian court in the town of Ain Turk, 267 miles (430 kilometers) from the capital Algiers, held a hearing on the Christians’ fate October 16.

Prosecutors demanded that the three Christians, identified as Youssef Ourahmane, Rachid Seghir and Hamid Ramdani, would be sentenced to "three years of prison and a fine of 500 euros ($630) on charges of ‘insulting Islam, its prophet and threatening the former professing Christian that complained against them’," ICC said, citing local sources.

Earlier, a lower court reportedly already agreed with the punishment, but the accused Christians were apparently not present at the time of the ruling "The defendants then appealed the decision of the lower court on July 15, 2008. The appeal court postponed the hearing until October 21, 2008," ICC explained.

RADICAL MUSLIMS

The case against the three Christian men was reportedly brought by the public prosecutor with the help of a man identified as Shamouma Al-Aid. He "converted" from Islam to Christianity for a period of time, but he continued to maintain relations with radical Muslims while attending churches and a Bible school, Christians said.

Later he reportedly "reconverted" to Islam and alleged that the three Christians were blaspheming Islam and its prophet Mohammed. He also alleged that the Christians were threatening him for "reconverting" to Islam," said ICC, which closely monitored the case.

The group stressed however that there was "a positive development" as a lawyer representing the Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs said that "the rights of Algerian religious minorities should be respected." The court was to make its decision next Wednesday, October 29.

REGIONAL MANAGER

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho said his organization was concerned about the situation. "As a member of the international community, the Algerian government has the obligation to respect the freedom of religion for its Christian minorities. It is time for Algerian officials to carry out their obligations by ceasing to interfere with freedom of worship of the country’s Christian minorities," Racho added.

He said his rights group urged Christians "to pray for their Algerian brothers and sisters who are going through persecution."

Christians and Jewish people comprise less than one percent of Algeria’s mainly Muslim population of roughly 34 million people, according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).