Algeria To Train Imams To Combat Religious Extremism In USA

Six imams from the United States of America will visit Algeria to be subject to a medium-term training by frames of the Ministry’s to counter religious extremism, Mohammed Aissa, Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, said on Friday.

“These imams aim to protect the United States from religious extremism”, the minister added.

“Washington sent more than one senior official to Algeria to draw inspiration from Algeria’s experience in the face of religious extremism. Imams will also be sent to Canada to frame the spiritual life there. 

“It was scheduled to commemorate the Prophet’s Birthday (mawlid nabawi shairf) in a mosque in Québec province, which earlier this year, was the scene of an armed attack by a Christian extremist killing a number of Muslims”.

“Ministry of Religious Affairs will soon receive envoys from Russia, the Balkans and Singapore, and students from the forensic science from Indonesia as well, where th Qadiriyah doctine spread”, defending, in his participation in the forum of the newspaper “Manbar Al Gharb” that was published in Oran (western Algeria), the Algerian Imam, about whom he said: “He has a good reputation in Europe and he is required by many countries that are benefiting from his moderation.

“Over 120 Algerian imams were welcome in France. Another group of imams was sent to frame religious life in Italy”.

As for the legal texts that the ministry is preparing, Aissa spoke of an executive decree that will be issued soon concerning mosques in the neighborhoods where the five prayers should be held, and not Friday prayers. 

“A joint decree will also be issued between the Ministries of Religious Affairs and Culture to regulate the import and printing of the religious book. Next week, a committee of 19 frames will monitor the import of these books”.

On the future projects of the sector, Aissa revealed the establishment of an Academy of Islamic Jurisprudence, a center for studies and research in moderation, an observatory to combat religious extremism, in addition to a religious TV channel.

Religious Affairs Minister returned to talk again about securing the Algerians from the thought of the deviant sects, especially the Ahmadiyya. 

He denied that Algeria has a dispute with Saudi Arabia regarding it, asserting that the two countries share its description of deviation. 

As for the Karakaria, which is originated from Morocco and spread in Algeria, he considered that the matter is political and aims to destroy the glory of the Alaoui doctrine in Algeria, calling at the same time secretaries of scientific councils across the provinces to combat the spread the deviations of Karakaria, so as not to trap the Algerians.