U.S. Department of State Criticized Restrictions on Practicing Religions in Algeria
A U.S. Department of State’s report on the freedom of religions counted between 30.000 and 70.000 Jews and Christians in Algeria, considering that many of the procedures limit the freedom of religious practices, even though the law allows it, criticizing the prevention of non-Muslims from occupying official positions, and restrictions on the adoption of non-Islamic religious associations as well.
The report included implied criticism against the Algerian legislation, which was keen to develop regulations on the practice of religious rites, in order to put an end to proselytism, and considered that the Algerian Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the country’s laws allow non-Muslims to practice their religion freely, while the Constitution asserts that Islam is the state religion, and prevents engaging in behaviours that are incompatible with Islamic morality, as stipulated in Decree No. 06-03 on the freedom of non-Muslims to practice religious rites, provided that this should be in line with the law and the Constitution, as well as public order and morals, and respect for fundamental freedoms of others .
The same report thinks that the procedures that were taken by the Algerian government to fight proselytism that broke out in many areas, as limiting the free exercise of religion for non-Muslims, and among these measures preventing the exploitation of houses or other places that are not licenced for practicing religion, which is usually the way adopted by the missionaries to spread Christianity, considering the procedures contained in Decree 06-03, which identifies modalities for the development of religious associations, that it contains some obstacles with respect to the exercise of religion, under the pretext of difficulties in the face of these people when trying to get accreditation from the Interior Ministry.
The U.S. report pointed to the Constitution, which prohibits non-Muslims from running for president, while it allows them to occupy public offices, and work within the government, but because churches are not keen to encourage non-Muslims to reach the top positions, thins led many to hide their real religion, which is one of the most important things that are mentioned in the report, as being unfair in the right of Churches that are active in Algeria.
It criticized the stalling of the government to reopen the 25 synagogues, despite the issuance of a decision about this matter, while the national commission of the non-Muslim religious groups, received 14 requests for the adoption of associations of various Protestant denominations, but did not not like the government’s keenness to follow up the activity of the churches, through controlling the buildings and places for the exercise of worship, and which occur on the structures, as well as watching over how to revive religious events involving non-Muslims and control participants, and give the governor the right to change the location of these celebrations if it poses a danger to the public order.