Mohammed Ben Brika to Echourouk : there is no room for Shiite doctrine in North Africa a

The renowned Algerian religious scholar Mohammed Ben Brika has dwelt on a number of issues in connection with the threat of the Shiite doctrine in Algeria. He commented the latest events that rocked the Norwegian capital Oslo.

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• In a wide –ranging interview with Echourouk, the Doctor gave an insightful analysis over several questions concerning the Islamic religion in Algeria and across the world;

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• Echourouk: This year coincides with the sixth session of the “ Mohammadia” lectures organized by “ El Belkaidia Hebria” group every Ramadan here in Oran, what’s new in this session?

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• Ben Brika: El Mohammadia lectures is an international forum hosted by the World Center for El Belkadia Habria trend that takes place between the 7 and 22 of the holy month of Ramadan. The previous five sessions were highly successful and covered several themes like: the Islamic civilization, the holly Koran, the prophet’s teaching, the prophet’s apostles and science. This year’s session will focus on science and civilization in the Islamic religion and will be exceptionally hosted by the city of Tlemcen as part of the event “ Tlemcen : The Islamic culture capital”. 20 conferences are scheduled including 4 in the French language and several theologians from different countries give lectures like the doctor Ahmed Omar Hachem from Egypt, and his two fellow citizens Ahmed Fouad Chaker and Ossama Sayed .

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• There will be also the doctor Hamza Ben Ali El Kettani from Rabat, Morocco and his fellow national Idriss El Fassi. Lebanon will be represented by Oussam Abderezzak Reffai and Ahmed Laden. From Tunisia there will be the doctor Lehdhili Al Mounsser and from France Abdellah Bouno and Denis Grille.

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• Echourouk: Many experts across the world consider Algeria as the capital of the spiritual movement, how come and why?

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• Ben Brika: This can be explained by the fact that Algeria encompasses several historical shrines and mosques and was in the past the hub of an intense religious activity. This is also part of the so called “religious tourism” which aims at firstly shed light on the country’s religious and cultural landmarks. The second objective is to make aware the future generations about their glorious past.

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• Echourouk: What can you say about the religious ministry’s initiative to organize a seminar in the memory of “ El Meghilli” next September here in Tlemcen?

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• Ben Brika: Mohammed Ben Abdelkrim El Meghilli is an outstanding spiritual figure who was born her in Tlemcen and buried in Adrar ( Southern Algeria). He was known for spreading the Islamic religion to the Timbuktu Empire in Africa.

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• Echourouk: A lot has been said about the spread of the Shiite doctrine in Algeria the last decade, what do you think?

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• Ben Brika: Actually, this movement exists in Algeria but it’s influence is not that big because the Algerian Sunni backgrounds stands as an impediment to its proliferation. The Shiites do not exceed 2000 in Algeria but the number will increase by the next five years if we do not go back to our religious landmarks. I ‘m not giving any value judgement,  but I think that the Sunnis and Shiites should stay within their geographical boundaries knowing that this doctrine has failed to establish in the Maghreb in the past.