Disgruntled Imams seek better wages, social benefits

Imams or religious preachers from several parts of Algeria have stepped up their protest movement to denounce the steady deterioration in their living conditions.

 The protesters are demanding salary hikes and the payment of overdue bonuses agreed upon by the religious affairs and wakfs Ministry as past of their particular status in 2008.

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• In so doing, these discontented Imams addressed a letter to the head of state Abdellaziz Bouteflika informing him in detail of their dire plight and untold precariousness.
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• They argued that all the promises made to them since 2008 by the relevant authorities for an improvement in their salary scale coupled with appropriate social benefits had so far remained a dead letter despite their repeated expostulations.
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• Groups of Imams who got in touch with the newspaper Echorouk from the provinces of Constantine, Annaba, Tipaza, Ouargla, Médéa, Tizi Ouzou and Blida said that they were being unfairly treated on several plans and most particularly in terms of salaries in comparison with other employees of other sectors having the same diploma.
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• These disillusioned Imams also demanded decent housing and facilitations to accomplish the annual Hadj pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam in Saudi Arabia.