Ahmadiyya in Algeria
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Ahmadiyya is an Islamic community in Algeria under the leadership of the caliph in London.[1][2] First established in Algeria in the 1970s,[3] it saw a growth in membership in the late 2000s. The Community, which numbers over 1,000 Algerians in the country,[4] is spread over a number of provinces across Algeria.
In June 2016, a nationwide crackdown covering several provinces led to the arrest of several Algerian Ahmadi Muslims, the confiscation of their properties, and the demolition of an Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque and center under construction, in Larbaâ, Blida Province. The investigation was carried out by the research section of the national police department Gendarmerie Nationale.[4] The police first arrested six Ahmadis in Larbaâ, Blida Province, followed by the detainment in Bou Ismaïl, Tipaza Province, of the alleged national president of the Ahmadiyya movement in Algeria. Along with the demolition of a community center under construction in Larbaâ by the local Municipality, a number of vehicles, books, leaflets and other properties belonging to Ahmadi Muslims were seized. Later, two Ahmadi Muslims were detained in the capital, Algiers. In total, nine Ahmadi Muslims were summoned to the regional court in Larbaâ, charged with "violating" state security.[4][5] The arrests came under the premise that the movement is "conspiring" against Algeria.
Several months later, in October 2016, 20 Ahmadi Muslims, ranging between the ages of twenty and sixty,[6] were arrested by the Algerian security services following the conclusion of their Friday Prayers at a private home in Skikda. The arrests came under the guise of "public security".[7] The arrests and the disclosure of a private residence used as a place of worship for Ahmadi Muslims, came following a number of surveillance operations over its attendees, including those on social media. There are over 280 Ahmadis in Skikda.[6]
In November 2016, another six Ahmadi Muslims were arrested, whilst they were offering prayers, from a house in Sidi Ameur, in the province of M'Sila. The arrests came under the pretext of creating an ad hoc place of worship, without prior state approval. A number of books and leaflets were also seized.[8][9]
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has falsely stated that the movement is "one of the branches of Western colonialism and foreign intelligence services, in charge of spying on Arab and Muslim countries."[4] Mohamed Issa, the Minister of Religious Affairs has said that "a deviant religious sect...which is well-known in Pakistan and the Gulf states is now spreading to Northern Africa including Algeria. The Government is concerned that this band of Islam is becoming popular among the population, especially young people."[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "Le ahmadisme, la nouvelle crainte du gouvernement algérien ?" (in French). May 13, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs Warns Against Extremism". Al Monitor. August 25, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ↑ "La guerre chiites-wahhabites ne nous concerne pas" (in French). June 22, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "La secte religieuse El-Ahmadiya démantelée" (in French). June 13, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- 1 2 "Extrémisme et dérives idéologiques : une secte religieuse, Al Ahmadia, démantelée à Blida" (in French). June 13, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- 1 2 "النهار تكشف حقيقة الطائفة «الأحمدية» في سكيكدة". October 3, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ "وزارة الشؤون الدينية بالجزائر تُقاضي الأحمديين وترفض وجودهم في البلاد" (in Arabic). CNN. October 5, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ "La secte Ahmadiyya a encore des adeptes en Algérie" (in French). November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Six de ses adeptes interpellés à Msila: La secte Ahmadiyya toujours active en Algérie" (in French). November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.