Algeria: Refugees and Foreigners, Barred From “I'tikaaf” In Mosques…

When many imams have been calling for the lifting of restrictions on the worshippers who wish to fulfill the “I’tikaaf” (or spiritual retreat) and the pious vigils during the last ten days of the holy month of fasting of Ramadhan, the Department of Affairs religious is intent on further toughening the conditions for such a religious endeavor in order to stamp out the specter of extremism in mosques.

Indeed, these restrictions concern in particular foreigners and refugees who will be subjected to thorough investigations before allowing them to undertake such a religious retreat in Algerian mosques.

However, authorization may be issued for officiating imams appointed by the relevant authorities to manage these groups of worshippers. But, in the absence of the imam, the mosque committee responsible for the administrative procedure will supervise the operation in close cooperation with the religious affairs ministry. 

All these measures were fostered by the relevant ministry to extract our youth from the grip of extremism that is covertly spreading through so-called pious actions.