42 Thousand “Illegal Children” In Algeria, ADN Tests Required

A report conducted by the government on the situation of childhood in Algeria, to be presented next October at the UN Human Rights Council, concluded that 3000 children are born annually outside marriage.

Yet, attorney Fatma Zohra Benbrahem assumes that she has confirmed that there are 42 thousand illegal children in the country.

A report conducted by the National Social and Economy Council (CNES) shows that 320 thousand are born legally. 

In this respect, the Sociologist and Human Rights activist, Nacera Merah urged authorities to quit taking religion as a pretext when it comes to reject making of ADN tests compulsory procedure to identify the origin parents of the “nameless children.” 

The activist further stressed that such tests would likely to curb the phenomenon of “the children of the streets,” calling for amending Article 14 in the Family Code, which bans enduring the presumed father to ADN tests. 

However, religious expert Mr Mohamed Cheikh said in the religious point of view the issue has been decided on for ages. A child issued of adultery should be referred to his/her mother, the religion man said.

He added that ADN tests would have no importance vis-à-vis the religion, but it could be used as judicial evidence to convict defendant sued in adultery case. 

The Islamic Law makes difference between adultery and legal marriage, thus ADN should not be used as an excuse to identify the original parent of children born out of illegal relationships, Mr Cheikh concluded.