Christian Kabyle Coalition Sends Letter to Director of White House Faith Office

A coalition of pastors, rights defenders, NGOs, and congregants have written to Pastor Paula White-Cain of the White House Faith Office to express their concern over the worsening repression of religious freedom in Algeria - especially among Christian Kabyles.

The signatories of the letter represent a broad spectrum of Christian organisations, including Christian Pastors, Missionaries, and Congregants, many of whom are in exile and would face immediate imprisonment if they returned home. Signatories also include the Kabyle League for Human Rights (LKDH), in exile in Paris, the Kabylia, Roots and Wings Association (KRA), based in France, and the Red Aza (the Kabyle equivalent to the Red Cross).

The letter highlights the notorious Article 87 bis, which continues to criminalise peaceful religious activities, and has been systematically weaponised to silence dissent and target minority faith communities. It describes church closures and arrests of both pastors and congregants - blatant violations of religious freedom which directly contravene Algeria’s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The coalition urges the Trump administration to take decisive action in defence of religious liberty by pressing for immediate reforms that restore religious rights and reopen shuttered churches.

Both the US and the UK have long stood as global advocates for religious freedom, and it is imperative that they uphold this commitment by holding Algeria accountable.