Algerian Muslim Scholars refute Interior Ministry decision on scarf and beard in official photograph taking

The association of Algerian Ulemas or religious scholars has issued a fatwa or religious decree totally refuting the Interior Ministry decision compelling women to take off their scarves and men to shave their beards before taking photographs serving for official identity papers, including identity cards and passports.

Under this religious decree, the Interior Ministry decision is deemed null and void as it is in total contradiction with the provisions of the Algerian constitution which guarantees individual and collective liberties and the strict respect of the Islamic values upheld by the Algerian citizens.

The Algerian Ulemas, through the voice of Cheikh Abderrahmane Chibane, have spoken out against this decision arguing that those Algerians wearing the scarf, for the women and the beard for men, in line with Islamic precepts, were fully entitled to refuse this administrative injunction.

A large number of citizens from several provinces of the country have alerted the higher Islamic council and the head of government Abdellaziz Belkhadem in order to ensure the total scrapping of this highly controversial decision as early as possible.