The Christian community of Algeria needs the support and prayers of the worldwide Christian community.

A church closure in Algeria sparks calls for prayer as arrests and persecution continue.

Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) reports that the Algerian government campaign to close churches continues.

WOMC says, "On October 17th, leaders of the church in Freha were summoned by police and informed that their building will be sealed."

In response, Algerian Christians have gathered Governorate building in Tizi Ouzou to express their concerns. Police violently arrested 97 people at the demonstration, injuring some of them, report VOMC.

A total of 11 churches from the Protestant Church of Algeria have been sealed so far, with eight of these government-mandated closures having occurred since May of this year.

Open Doors USA reports, "Algeria’s blasphemy laws make it difficult for Christians to share their faith out of fear their conversation may be considered blasphemous and used against them.

"In Algeria, it’s forbidden by law to 'shake the faith' of a Muslim or to use 'means of seduction' to convert a Muslim to another religion."

Christians suffer from harassment and discrimination in their daily life, says Open Doors.

"The pressure Christians face is particularly high in the rural and religiously more conservative parts of the North African country."