Algeria's religious affairs minister affirms country's tolerance for free worship: Video

On Tuesday, December 3, Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi affirmed that the country upholds freedom of worship, responding to criticism from the United States. Earlier this year, Washington placed Algeria on a watchlist for allegedly restricting religious freedom, citing the closure of evangelical churches and the criminalisation of blasphemy. Vesco, a French national who gained Algerian citizenship last year, is also set to become the first Algerian candidate in 60 years to be appointed by Pope Francis next week. Previously, the French-born prelate served as Bishop of Oran for over a decade before becoming Archbishop of Algiers in 2021.