US report: Algerians hate Jews, Shias, Bahais and Ahmadis

The US Department of State Wednesday said officers at the American embassy in Algiers held meetings last year with Algerian officials from interior, foreign and religious affairs ministries. They discussed difficulties faced by Christians and religious minorities in registering associations, gathering religious groups and getting visas.

The officers also evoked the Algerian government’s position towards non-Sunni Muslims. Washington showed a big interest in the way local authorities had dealt with Al-Ahmaddiyya sect.

The US Department of State Wednesday released its annual international religious freedom report 2016. A total of 16 pages of it talk about Algeria.

The report cited many information already released in previous reports. Yet, the 2016’s report shed light on Al-Ahmaddiyya sect and quoted media talking about security operations against the sect followers.

“Police arrested Ahmadi Muslims for conducting unauthorized religious activities, such as holding prayers and printing religious books,” said the report.

It quoted the religious affairs minister Mohamed Aissa, saying “Al-Ahmaddiyya sect no longer exists in the country and an effort must be made to bring youth who had been influenced by Al-Ahmaddiyya doctrine back to “our national religious beliefs.”

It also said Algerian officials considered Al-Ahmaddiyya community, along with other religious groups they described as sects such as the Bahai Faith, were as not legitimate religious groups and would likely not receive permission to operate legally.

The report includes what looks like “recommendations” given by the US administration to its Algerian counterpart.

It also said the US Ambassador to Algiers encouraged the government to promote religious tolerance. “The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor met with several officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to stress the importance of religious tolerance and freedom of worship. The embassy sponsored the visit of a Muslim writer and scholar from the United States to engage youth in discussions of religious freedom and tolerance.”

Speaking about religious demography, the US Department of State said estimates show that the population at 40 million (July 2016 estimate), more than 99 percent of whom are Sunni Muslim. “Groups together constituting less than 1 percent of the population include Christians, Jews, Ahmadi Muslims, Shia Muslims, and a community of Ibadi Muslims residing principally in the province of Ghardaia. Some religious leaders estimate there are fewer than 200 Jews.”

It also said “there were reports of family members abusing Muslims who converted to or expressed an interest in Christianity.”

Speaking about non-Muslims in Algeria, the report said they had experienced threats and intolerance and often kept a low profile as a result.

It showed dissatisfaction about media coverage of the presence of an Israeli journalist among other reporters who accompanied former French Prime Minister on his visit to Algeria.

The report talks about a state of “hate” from Algerians towards Shia, Bahai and Al-Ahmaddiyya. 

It said “both private and state run media produced reports throughout the year examining the supposed foreign ties and dangers of religious groups such as Shia, Ahmadis, and Salafists.”

It evoked a program that featured interviews with a professor, an imam, and a scholar of Islam about the dangers of the Ahmadi faith. “The program did not feature opposing viewpoints defending the Ahmadis,” said the report.