USA, July 25, 2025

Subject: a perpetual harassment of a Christian in Kabylia

Holy Father,
I admire your legendary kindness and devotion to defending the oppressed
including your followers around the world. At time of difficult challenges, I wish you success in making the world a better place to all humans.
I’m a Kabylian-American, I’m reaching out to you to denounce the grim
situation endured by a Christian man in Kabylia, named Slimane Bouhafs,
previously detained in the prison of Kolea, in Algeria since August 25th,
2021, the date of his arrest by the Algerian secret services.
The Algerian State imposes Islam as the State’s religion by article 2 of the
constitution which stipulates: Islam is the State’s religion.
Thus, in Algeria, as in the Muslim world, renouncing the Muslim religion is
an unacceptable act and punishable by the Sharia law called apostasy.
Being of Christian faith, in 2016, Slimane Bouhafs was sentenced to 3
years in prison, primarily for following a religion that is different from the
Algerian State’ official religion.
However, after his release, Slimane Bouhafs sought refuge in Tunisia, and
has been under the protection of the UNHCR (United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees) since 2018. Despite his refugee status, the
Tunisian State, which has ratified international conventions, has made no
effort to protect him or to denounce his kidnapping from Tunisia.
Therefore, after his kidnapping and arrest, he was placed under a warrant
committal on September 1, 2021, in Algeria.
I also would like to inform you, Holy Father, that the Kabylian people are
systematically persecuted and criminalized by the Algerian authorities. The
consequences of this terror are: 38 condemned to death, over 500
prisoners of conscience, hundreds missing persons, and thousands are
exiled.
During his trial, held on December 18th, 2022, he made a shocking revelation which no human being should endure! M. Bouhafs was tortured,
stabbed several times in the back, his hands handcuffed, and his head
covered by a plastic bag. They even went further, he was forced to drink
urine and endured sexual assault.
During his hearing at the criminal court of Dar El Beida in Algiers, Slimane
Bouhafs warned that he was going to die or commit suicide. He also
mentioned other abuses which he couldn’t reveal out in respect to his
daughters present in the room. After his verdict, his last words before going
to prison were: “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! “.
Hassan Bourras, a journalist, and a former prisoner of conscience gave a
chilling testimony on the situation that M. Bouhafs is going through:
“Bouhafs could not overcome the shock, because he was psychologically
devastated to the point of thinking to commit suicide overnight. He often
finds himself in a state of great agitation, drowning in hysterical screaming
and crying in his cell.”
Released in 2024 after 3 years in prison, Sliman Bouhafs is again under
threat and distress.
Although he served an arbitrary sentence of 3 years on bogus charges,
from August 2021 to September 2024, Mr. Slimane Bouhafs is being
considered as a second-class citizen because of harassment and
intimidation he received from the Algerian military junta that denied his
rights as a citizen.
“I became a stateless person, at home in Algeria. I don’t have any
identification card. I am deprived of all my rights. The Algerian authorities
refuse to issue to me documents proving my identity, so I am stateless.
Even my retirement pension was disallowed. I urge all international bodies
and all living people who believe in justice to help me. I have no more life. I
can’t stand my life anymore, “says Slimane Bouhafs.
Now, Mr. Bouhafs is a stranded man, deliberately prompted by Algeria’s
religious intolerance, he seeks support and protection to survive.
 
Given his psychological and physical condition, and his financial situation,
Holiness Father, I urge your intervention as soon as possible with the
Algerian authorities, to put an end to this injustice in favor of M. Sliman
Bouhafs, and to all Kabylians of the Christian faith in Algeria who are at risk
of enduring the same fate.

I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound respect. Your
Holiness’ most obedient and humble and very obedient servant.