Preacher Ouadjdi Ghanim to Echorouk: “We were falsely told the power in Algeria was against Islam”

Islamic preacher Ouadjdi Ghanim, who was the distinguished guest of Echorouk's Forum, stressed the necessity of carefully dealing with extremism, saying the elimination of this negative phenomenon musty be based on ideas, arguments and dialogue along with security solutions.

• The preacher also said Muslims must not fall in the trap of enemies who falsify facts through media. “Muslims must respect rules in the Quran and the Prophet’s deed to not be confused,” he told Echorouk Forum on Monday.
• Government should allow Algerian scholars talking to young people
• Ouadjdi Ghanim said Algeria has an arsenal of religion scholars who can transmit the real religion message to the Algerian people.
• He added that he is impressed by the Algerian government for receiving preachers and caring about scholars while many of Muslim countries oppress them.
• He urged the Algerian authorities to keep up this “correct way and make Algerian scholars in direct contact with young people. It is the only way to protect their minds from falling in extremist ideas.”
• “We were wrongly told the ruling power was against Islam in Algeria”
• Cheikh Ouadjdi Ghanim urged the Algerian government to continue the Reconciliation which “successful in unifying the Algerian people after a serious bloody experience.”
• He said he was told “Islamists in Algeria run for office and won the people’s voices but power deprived them of this right because it rejected Islam.”
• “I was surprised by what happened especially that I have a wonderful image in mind about Algeria which protects Islam and considers it as an indisputable rule.”
• “Al-Qaeda will fail in convincing conscientious people about extremism”
• The preacher said real knowledge is the best weapon for the Algerian people against extremism organisations such as Al-Qaeda.
• “They should not trust anyone they see preaching. Not anyone who learns the Quran is a scholar. They should make the difference between the true and the false.”
• “Regimes’ errors do not justify bombings”
• Ouadjdi Ghanim said Arab and Muslim regimes make errors which give more justifications to extremists. Because of that some countries prevent religion practising people from entering some places. “That makes people an easy prey to extremism.”
• Cohesion between preachers and officials only in Algeria
• The preacher praised the cohesion between officials and preachers, saying he met with local officials and was accompanied with policemen to mosques. “I have never seen such a thing because policemen used to accompany me to prisons and courts and not to mosques.”
• He also said he will transmit all his impressions on Algeria and its people via his website.
• “Security forces travelled with me in long distances. I went out from my car to shake their hands and bless them.”
• Echorouk publisher: “The newspaper will always back initiatives in support of Arabism and Islam”
• Echorouk’s publisher Ali Fodil said his newspaper committed itself to honouring scholars and symbols of Arabism and Islam. “They are the asset of the nation and protectors of its culture and identity.”
• “Cheikh Ouadjdi Ghanim is one of those symbols in the whole Muslim world. He has conveyed the real message of Islam to a large number of Muslims and non Muslims over four decades,” Ali Fodil said.
• He praised the preacher’s efforts in the campaign entitled ‘Be positive’ throughout many provinces in the country.
• The publisher also said his newspaper supports such initiatives as part of Arabism and Islam as well as “showing the fair image of Algeria where security and stability have been restored.”