Date: Friday 7 April 2006
Subj: Afghanistan: Christians face escalating threat
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis
From: WEA RLC Principal Researcher and Writer, Elizabeth Kendal.
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AFGHANISTAN: CHRISTIANS FACE ESCALATING THREAT
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In light of the apostasy case against Abdul Rahman, German publication Der Spiegel published an excellent article on Christianity in Afghanistan. Written by Matthias Gebauer in Kabul, this article entitled, "A Community of Faith and Fear", dissolves the fantasy and exposes the reality of life for Christians in Afghanistan. Gebauer interviews Afghan Christian Hashim Kabar (not his real name) who says, "We must recognize that freedom of religion, as promised by the Afghan constitution, does not exist. But maybe it's good that the international community is now aware of that."
Der Spiegel notes that when the Taliban came to power in the mid-1990s, its "Supreme Leader Mullah Omar ordered his men to raze churches to the ground, to lynch Afghan Christians and to kill or drive out foreigners who followed Jesus Christ". (This is a curious claim from Spiegel considering Afghanistan did not have even a single church when the Taliban came to power. See RLP 216)
This posting contends that the recent apostasy debacle and a resurgent Taliban are about to make the situation for Afghan Christians much worse.
As the Der Spiegel article concludes: "Even though Afghanistan has dismissed its case against Abdul Rahman, this is a cold comfort for Kabar. He and his friends fear that anger among Islamists over Rahman's release could spur them to take matters into their hands and act even more brutally toward converts. 'Abdul Rahman's release is a good thing,' he says. 'But the international community needs to keep its eyes open.'
"According to Kabar, the worst thing would be if the resolution of the case leaves the impression that everything is now OK for converts living in Afghanistan. If that happens, he says, the case would have done more harm than good. 'We are going to stand by our faith,' he adds on parting. 'Any kind of support would help us a lot.'" (Link 1)
APOSTASY DEBACLE INFLAMES PASSIONS AND DISSENSION
For many Afghanis, the apostasy case against Abdul Rahman became a debacle. On Wednesday 29 March 06, Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga (lower chamber of parliament) had a two-hour debate concerning Abdul Rahman’s release from Kabul's high security Pul-e-Charki prison. The MPs voted unanimously that the Supreme Court's decision to release Rahman was "contrary to the laws in place in Afghanistan". They not only demanded that the Court provide an explanation, but they insisted that Abdul Rahman not be permitted to leave the country. The MPs sent a letter to Afghanistan's Interior Minister to that effect. However, Abdul Rahman was already on his way to refuge in Italy. (Link 2)
While President Karzai defended the release of Abdul Rahman, Chief Justice Fazl Hadi Shinwari complained that Islamic laws were being ignored in Afghanistan and some government officials were not upholding Islamic values. The Taliban issued a statement that claimed the release of Rahman was a conspiracy masterminded by foreign forces. The statement called on the mullahs and judges to admit that they have sold themselves as servants of infidels. It claimed the conspiracy aimed to "assure other recalcitrants that they are no longer in danger and no one in Islam can punish them.
"The Afghan nation will not be deceived with such schemes and inshallah (God willing) such plots will be neutralized."
"We condemn this crime of the puppet administration. We ask our Muslim brothers to take their position against this offence by the enemies of Islam and to act, based on their responsibility to their religion and God, and to start jihad against Karzai's administration." (Link 3)
APOSTASY DEBACLE EFFECTS TWO BATTLES
While Abdul Rahman has found refuge in Italy, the apostasy case, or in particular the way in which the case was resolved (or circumvented), has lit a fuse in Afghanistan at a time when all the ingredients are present to fuel a massive explosion.
Most significantly, the Rahman apostasy debacle has inflamed Islamic passions and anti-West, anti-government anger at the same time as the Taliban, after several years of training in Iraq, is launching its Spring offensive against the Allied "enemy invaders" in Afghanistan and their "puppets": the US-backed administration of President Karzai and the Afghan police that serve that administration.
Secondly, the Rahman apostasy debacle has inflamed Islamic passions and anti-West, anti-government anger just ahead of a battle for control of Afghanistan's Supreme Court. This battle between reformists and Islamic hardliners is being waged in Afghanistan's parliament. The parliamentary debate on President Karzai's new cabinet began on Monday 3 April and will continue for another week yet before a secret ballot. Significant opposition to President Karzai's nominations would greatly undermine his authority.
After that the parliament will debate President Karzai's nine nominations for the Supreme Court bench. As the Financial Times reports, "Western governments have pushed Mr Karzai to change the line-up of the Supreme Court, which functions not only as the court of final appeal but also interprets the constitution and appoints all judges." As one Western diplomat noted, "'...if we don't get a professional and clean court passed by parliament, it will imperil reform at every level'. It is unclear when MPs will vote on the issue, but diplomats say the controversy over Mr Rahman's case has clearly raised the stakes of the debate." (Link 4)
FOR AFGHANIS, THE ISSUE IS SOVEREIGNTY
Most Afghanis do not accept the concept of religious liberty as a fundamental human right. They feel humiliated and outraged that Western interference in the Rahman case has, in their eyes, caused Afghanistan’s sovereignty to be violated. Resentful Afghanis will doubtless be keen to demonstrate that they do not wish to be dictated to by the West on any issue, especially issues pertaining to their religion.
For many Afghanis, Afghanistan's sovereignty is now intrinsically linked to Afghanistan's "right" as a sovereign Islamic nation to implement Sharia and deal with apostates and infidels as Afghanis see fit: to execute them in accordance with Sharia. For many Afghanis the apostasy debacle will also confirm the Taliban charge that President Karzai's administration is un-Islamic and a mere "puppet" of Western "foreign enemy forces". This heightening of Islamic nationalist zeal will aid both Taliban recruitment and anti-Karzai Islamist political forces.
A worst-case scenario could see angry Afghanis, provoked by Islamist, Taliban or al Qaeda forces, zealously acting to purge Afghanistan of Christians as a defiant exercise of sovereignty. Afghan Christians could be facing extremely dangerous times ahead.
RESURGENT TALIBAN
Stratfor Intelligence commented on 5 January 2006 that the increase in suicide bombings in Afghanistan during 2005 (a method not normally favoured by Pashtuns) and the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs: a weapon not previously used in Afghanistan) indicated that Afghanistan was receiving an influx of foreign, predominantly Arab, jihadists.
According to Stratfor, deputy al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri had said the jihad in Afghanistan should not be neglected for the benefit of the jihad in Iraq. Stratfor reports, "since summer [June/July] 2005, an increasing number of foreign fighters have been brought into Afghanistan from safe locations along the Pakistani border."
Not only is al Qaeda facilitating the entry of Arab jihadis into Afghanistan, but according to a report written by Syed Saleem Shahzad for Adnkronos International (AKI), the Taliban are sending Afghan jihadis to Iraq for training with al Qaeda affiliated groups.
According to AKI, at the end of 2003 Taliban leader and founder, Mullah Muhammed Omar, sent another Taliban leader, Mullah Mehmood Allah Haq Yar, to Iraq where he spent several months learning the techniques of urban guerrilla warfare. In 2004 Haq Yar started training groups within the Taliban to employ the techniques that have been successful in creating Allied casualties in Iraq. This resulted in fewer Taliban casualties and more Taliban success. Then from 2004 through 2005 around 500 Taliban fighters were sent to Iraq for training with the Islamic Army of Iraq as well as Ansar al-Sunna. Particular attention has been given to the latest techniques for use against the US-led forces' high-tech deterrence capabilities.
So the Taliban is launching its 2006 Spring offensive with new strength and confidence. They have been trained in guerrilla warfare, in strategy, and in how to build IEDs, lay mines, and spy on targets. According to AKI, "...up to 100 'death squads' are ready to launch targeted attacks in the Taliban's spring offence." (Link 5)
According to reports, the past month has seen a profound Taliban resurgence. During 2005 the Taliban staged 17 suicide attacks. There have 12 such attacks so far this year.
Following the strategy of terrorists in Iraq, the Taliban are targeting Afghan police. (Link 6)
Security for Christians in Afghanistan has always been difficult and tentative. But it is feared that 2006 could see the situation deteriorate markedly as the humiliating, infuriating apostasy debacle – coming as it does hot on the heels of the Guantanamo Bay Qur'an desecration myth riots of May 2005, and the recent Cartoon Intifada riots of February 2006 – ignites a passionate and defiant resurgence of political Islam in the presence of a resurgent Taliban.
Elizabeth Kendal
Links
1) A Community of Faith and Fear
By Matthias Gebauer in Kabul 30 March 2006
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,408781,00.html
2) Convert must not flee country: Wolesi Jirga
KABUL, Mar 29 (Pajhwok Afghan News)
http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=15737
3) Taliban condemns release of Christian convert, calls for jihad
AFP. Thursday, 30 March 2006
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1021007
ALSO
Taliban condemn convert's release, urge people to strongly react.
30 March 2006, IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-16/0603302142194635.htm
4) Convert case threatens Afghan reforms
by Rachel Morarjee in Kabul. 6 April 2006
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4b2f1296-c4ff-11da-b7c1-0000779e2340.html
5) Taliban trained in Iraq ahead of Spring offensive.
Karachi 13 March 2006 (AKI) - by Syed Saleem Shahzad http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.275042512&par=0
6) Karzai puppet policemen were killed
Kavkaz Centre (Islamist) 4 April 2006
http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2006/04/04/4570.shtml
ALSO
Nine cops killed in Taliban attack. 3 April 2006
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C04%5C03%5Cstory_3-4-2006_pg7_5
Friday, April 7, 2006
Friday, March 31, 2006
ALGERIA: TEXT OF PRESIDENTIAL ORDER CONCERNING RELIGION
Date: Friday 31 March 2006
Subj: Algeria: Text of Presidential Order concerning religion
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis
From: WEA RLC Principal Researcher and Writer, Elizabeth Kendal.
The following is an unofficial translation of President Bouteflika's Presidential Order concerning the 'conditions and rules for the exercise of religious worship other than Muslim'.
The Presidential Order was published in the Official Journal of the Algerian Republic (Journal Officiel de la Republique Algerienne) Number 12, 1 March 2006. The Presidential Order (in French) concerning religion is on pages 23 & 24.
Elizabeth Kendal
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OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ALGERIAN REPUBLIC NUMBER 12
Aouel Safar 1427
1 March 2006
Ruling number 06-03 of 29 Moharram 1427, Corresponding to 28 February 2006
fixing the conditions and rules for the exercise of religious worship other
than Muslim.
----
The President of the Republic,
In view of the Constitution, notably its articles 2, 29, 36, 43, 122 and 124;
In view of the international pact relative to civil and political rights,to which Algeria has subscribed by the presidential decree number 89-67 of 16 May 1989;
In view of the ruling number 66-154 of 8 June 1966, modified and supplemented, containing code of civil procedure;
In view of ruling number 66-155 of 8 June 1966, modified and supplemented, containing code of criminal procedure;
In view of ruling number 66-156 of 8 June 1966, modified and supplemented, containing penal code;
In view of ruling number 77-03 of 19 February 1977 relative the collection of money in a public place.
In view of law number 89-28 of 31 December 1989, modified and supplemented, relative to meetings and public demonstrations;
In view of law number 90-08 of 7 April 1990, supplemented, relative to towns and cities;
In view of law number 90-09 of 7 April 1990, supplemented, relative to administrative districts;
In view of law number 90-31 of 4 December 1990 relative to associations;
The Council of competent ministers, made known the ruling of which the contents follow:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL DISPOSITIONS
Article 1. — The present ruling has as its objective to fix the conditions and rules of exercise of religious worship other than Muslim.
Art. 2. — The Algerian state, of which the religion is Islam, guarantees the free exercise of religious worship in the framework of respect of the dispositions of the Constitution, of the present ruling, of the laws and regulations in force, of the public order, of good moral standards and of the fundamental rights and liberties of third parties.
The State equally guarantees the toleration and respect of different religions.
Art. 3. — Associations of religious practice other than Muslim enjoy the protection de the State.
Art. 4. — It is forbidden to use religious affiliation as the basis for discrimination towards any person or group of persons.
CHAPTER II
CONDITIONS FOR THE EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP
Art. 5. — Modification of a structure for the exercise of religious worship is subject to the prior approval of the national commission of the exercise of religious worship provided under article 9 of the present ruling.
Any activity is forbidden in premises intended for the exercise of religious worship, which would be contrary to the nature and objectives for which (the premises) are intended.
Structures intended for the exercise of religious worship are subject to being registered by the State, who assures their protection.
Art. 6. — Collective exercise of religious worship is organized by associations of a religious character of which the creation, approval and the functioning is subject to the dispositions of the present ruling and of the legislation in force.
Art. 7. — Collective exercise of religious worship takes place exclusively in structures intended for this purpose, open to the public and identifiable from the exterior.
Art. 8. — Religious gatherings take place in structures; they are public and subject to prior declaration.
The conditions and terms of the application of the present article are set by statutory means.
Art. 9. — A national commission of religious worship is created by the minister charged with religious affairs and of wakfs. The commission is charged in particular with:
— watching over the respect of the free exercise of religious worship;
— taking in charge the affairs and concerns related to the exercise of religious worship;
— giving prior approval for the formation of associations of a religious character.
The composition of this commission and the terms of its functioning are set by statutory means.
CHAPTER III
CRIMINAL PROVISIONS
Art. 10. — The punishment is one (1) year to three (3) years of imprisonment and a fine from 250.000 DA 500.000 DA for anyone who by verbal or written or distributed discourse in structures where religious worship takes place or who utilizes any other audiovisual means, containing a provocation to resist the fulfillment of the laws or the decision of the public authority, or tending to incite a part of the citizens to rebellion, without prejudice of more serious
penalties, if the provocation is followed by effects. The penalty is imprisonment from three (3) years to five (5) years and the fine is from 500.000 DA to 1.000.000 DA if the guilty person is as leader of religious worship.
Art. 11. — Without prejudice of more serious penalties, the punishment is imprisonment from two (2) years to five (5) years and a fine from 500.000 DA to 1.000.000 DA for whomever:
1 – incites, constrains or utilizes means of seduction tending to convert a Muslim to another religion, or by using to this end establishments for teaching, for education, for health, of a social or cultural nature, or training institutions, or any other establishment, or any financial means,
2 – makes, stores, or distributes printed documents or audiovisual productions or by any other aid or means, which has as its goal to shake the faith of a Muslim.
Art. 12. — The punishment is imprisonment from one (1) year to three (3) years and a penalty of from 100.000 DA to 300.000 DA, for anyone who has recourse to money collected from the public or who accepts gifts, without authorization by legally approved authorities.
Art. 13. — The punishment is imprisonment from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine from 100.000 DA to 300.000 DA, for anyone who:
1 – conducts a religious worship service contrary to the dispositions under articles 5 and 7 of the present ruling,
2 – organizes a religious gathering contrary to the dispositions of article 8 of the present ruling,
3 – preaches in structures intended for the exercise of religious worship, without being designated, approved, or authorized by the religious governing body of his faith, competent, duly authorized on national territory and by the competent Algerian authorities.
Art. 14. — The competent authorities may forbid residency on the national territory to a foreigner convicted following the commission of one of the infractions provided for by the present ruling, definitively or for a period, which cannot be less than ten (10) years.
The residency ban of and expulsion from the national territory of the convicted person begins with full effect after carrying out the penalty of imprisonment.
Art. 15. — A legal entity that commits one of the infractions provided for by the present ruling is punished by:
1 – a fine, which cannot be inferior to four (4) times the maximum of the fine provided for by the present ruling for a person who has committed the same infraction.
2 – one or several of the following penalties:
— the confiscation of the means and the materials utilized in the commission of the infraction,
— the ban from observing, in the place concerned, a religious worship service or any religious activity,
— the dissolution of the legal entity.
CHAPTER IV
TEMPORARY AND FINAL DISPOSITIONS
Art. 16. — Persons exercising a religious worship service other than Muslim, in a collective setting, are required to conform to the dispositions of the present ruling, within six (6) months, starting with its publication in the Official Journal.
Art. 17. — The present ruling will be published in the Official Journal of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria.
Done in Algiers, on 29 Moharram 1427, corresponding to 28 February 2006.
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA.
Subj: Algeria: Text of Presidential Order concerning religion
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis
From: WEA RLC Principal Researcher and Writer, Elizabeth Kendal.
The following is an unofficial translation of President Bouteflika's Presidential Order concerning the 'conditions and rules for the exercise of religious worship other than Muslim'.
The Presidential Order was published in the Official Journal of the Algerian Republic (Journal Officiel de la Republique Algerienne) Number 12, 1 March 2006. The Presidential Order (in French) concerning religion is on pages 23 & 24.
Elizabeth Kendal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ALGERIAN REPUBLIC NUMBER 12
Aouel Safar 1427
1 March 2006
Ruling number 06-03 of 29 Moharram 1427, Corresponding to 28 February 2006
fixing the conditions and rules for the exercise of religious worship other
than Muslim.
----
The President of the Republic,
In view of the Constitution, notably its articles 2, 29, 36, 43, 122 and 124;
In view of the international pact relative to civil and political rights,to which Algeria has subscribed by the presidential decree number 89-67 of 16 May 1989;
In view of the ruling number 66-154 of 8 June 1966, modified and supplemented, containing code of civil procedure;
In view of ruling number 66-155 of 8 June 1966, modified and supplemented, containing code of criminal procedure;
In view of ruling number 66-156 of 8 June 1966, modified and supplemented, containing penal code;
In view of ruling number 77-03 of 19 February 1977 relative the collection of money in a public place.
In view of law number 89-28 of 31 December 1989, modified and supplemented, relative to meetings and public demonstrations;
In view of law number 90-08 of 7 April 1990, supplemented, relative to towns and cities;
In view of law number 90-09 of 7 April 1990, supplemented, relative to administrative districts;
In view of law number 90-31 of 4 December 1990 relative to associations;
The Council of competent ministers, made known the ruling of which the contents follow:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL DISPOSITIONS
Article 1. — The present ruling has as its objective to fix the conditions and rules of exercise of religious worship other than Muslim.
Art. 2. — The Algerian state, of which the religion is Islam, guarantees the free exercise of religious worship in the framework of respect of the dispositions of the Constitution, of the present ruling, of the laws and regulations in force, of the public order, of good moral standards and of the fundamental rights and liberties of third parties.
The State equally guarantees the toleration and respect of different religions.
Art. 3. — Associations of religious practice other than Muslim enjoy the protection de the State.
Art. 4. — It is forbidden to use religious affiliation as the basis for discrimination towards any person or group of persons.
CHAPTER II
CONDITIONS FOR THE EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP
Art. 5. — Modification of a structure for the exercise of religious worship is subject to the prior approval of the national commission of the exercise of religious worship provided under article 9 of the present ruling.
Any activity is forbidden in premises intended for the exercise of religious worship, which would be contrary to the nature and objectives for which (the premises) are intended.
Structures intended for the exercise of religious worship are subject to being registered by the State, who assures their protection.
Art. 6. — Collective exercise of religious worship is organized by associations of a religious character of which the creation, approval and the functioning is subject to the dispositions of the present ruling and of the legislation in force.
Art. 7. — Collective exercise of religious worship takes place exclusively in structures intended for this purpose, open to the public and identifiable from the exterior.
Art. 8. — Religious gatherings take place in structures; they are public and subject to prior declaration.
The conditions and terms of the application of the present article are set by statutory means.
Art. 9. — A national commission of religious worship is created by the minister charged with religious affairs and of wakfs. The commission is charged in particular with:
— watching over the respect of the free exercise of religious worship;
— taking in charge the affairs and concerns related to the exercise of religious worship;
— giving prior approval for the formation of associations of a religious character.
The composition of this commission and the terms of its functioning are set by statutory means.
CHAPTER III
CRIMINAL PROVISIONS
Art. 10. — The punishment is one (1) year to three (3) years of imprisonment and a fine from 250.000 DA 500.000 DA for anyone who by verbal or written or distributed discourse in structures where religious worship takes place or who utilizes any other audiovisual means, containing a provocation to resist the fulfillment of the laws or the decision of the public authority, or tending to incite a part of the citizens to rebellion, without prejudice of more serious
penalties, if the provocation is followed by effects. The penalty is imprisonment from three (3) years to five (5) years and the fine is from 500.000 DA to 1.000.000 DA if the guilty person is as leader of religious worship.
Art. 11. — Without prejudice of more serious penalties, the punishment is imprisonment from two (2) years to five (5) years and a fine from 500.000 DA to 1.000.000 DA for whomever:
1 – incites, constrains or utilizes means of seduction tending to convert a Muslim to another religion, or by using to this end establishments for teaching, for education, for health, of a social or cultural nature, or training institutions, or any other establishment, or any financial means,
2 – makes, stores, or distributes printed documents or audiovisual productions or by any other aid or means, which has as its goal to shake the faith of a Muslim.
Art. 12. — The punishment is imprisonment from one (1) year to three (3) years and a penalty of from 100.000 DA to 300.000 DA, for anyone who has recourse to money collected from the public or who accepts gifts, without authorization by legally approved authorities.
Art. 13. — The punishment is imprisonment from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine from 100.000 DA to 300.000 DA, for anyone who:
1 – conducts a religious worship service contrary to the dispositions under articles 5 and 7 of the present ruling,
2 – organizes a religious gathering contrary to the dispositions of article 8 of the present ruling,
3 – preaches in structures intended for the exercise of religious worship, without being designated, approved, or authorized by the religious governing body of his faith, competent, duly authorized on national territory and by the competent Algerian authorities.
Art. 14. — The competent authorities may forbid residency on the national territory to a foreigner convicted following the commission of one of the infractions provided for by the present ruling, definitively or for a period, which cannot be less than ten (10) years.
The residency ban of and expulsion from the national territory of the convicted person begins with full effect after carrying out the penalty of imprisonment.
Art. 15. — A legal entity that commits one of the infractions provided for by the present ruling is punished by:
1 – a fine, which cannot be inferior to four (4) times the maximum of the fine provided for by the present ruling for a person who has committed the same infraction.
2 – one or several of the following penalties:
— the confiscation of the means and the materials utilized in the commission of the infraction,
— the ban from observing, in the place concerned, a religious worship service or any religious activity,
— the dissolution of the legal entity.
CHAPTER IV
TEMPORARY AND FINAL DISPOSITIONS
Art. 16. — Persons exercising a religious worship service other than Muslim, in a collective setting, are required to conform to the dispositions of the present ruling, within six (6) months, starting with its publication in the Official Journal.
Art. 17. — The present ruling will be published in the Official Journal of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria.
Done in Algiers, on 29 Moharram 1427, corresponding to 28 February 2006.
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA.
Friday, March 24, 2006
ALGERIA: SEVERE NEW PENALTIES FOR 'PROSELYTISING'
Date: Friday 24 March 2006
Subj: Algeria: severe new penalties for 'proselytising'
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis
From: WEA RLC Principal Researcher and Writer, Elizabeth Kendal.
A presidential order that establishes new conditions for the exercise of non-Muslim religious practice was passed in the Algerian Ummah council (Senate) on Monday 13 March, and in the Algerian National Assembly (Parliament) on 15 March. As a presidential order, the text would not have even been open to debate.
Click here for Text of Presidential Order concerning religion
An article entitled "New sanctions concerning the illegal exercise of religious worship – Evangelicals under high surveillance", was published on 14 March in the French language Algerian newspaper 'Actualite'. (Link 1)
In this article, writer Hamid Saidani laments, "The form chosen for the promulgation of this law closes the door to any debate on this subject which is extremely sensitive because it touches on a principle established by the fundamental law of the land, which is the freedom of worship and of conscience. The content of this legislative framework would certainly have been greatly benefited if the discussion had been allowed."
Saidani reports that the order, classified as No 06-03 and dated 28 February 2006, puts forward a number of arguments which call for the strengthening of the law regarding religious activities that could be considered as "missions of proselytising". According to Saidani the penal aspects of the text are, between a 2 and 5 year prison term and a fine of 50 to 100 million centimes (this amounts to approx. US$7,000 to US$14,000 (1 Algerian dinar = 100 centimes)) for anyone who "incites, constrains or uses seductive means seeking to convert a Muslim to another religion (...), or who produces, stores or distributes printed documents or audio-visual formats or any other format or means which seeks to shake the faith of a Muslim."
Saidani concludes: "It is certain that this legislation seeks to block proselytizing missions and missionaries led notably by American evangelical churches in certain regions of the country, however it remains vital that the texts be clear and explicit, and this so that the way will not be opened for the violation of individual and collective liberties established by the laws of the Republic which would be swallowed up by a revival of the demons of inquisition."
Arabic News reports that the new law "is an attempt to withstand the Christianizing campaign which had witnessed a notable activity recently especially in al-Qabayel area east of the country."(Link 2)
Arabic News also adds, "The law also bans practicing any religion 'except Islam' 'outside buildings allocated for that, and links specialized buildings aimed at practice of religion by a prior licensing.'
"One official at the ministry of religious affairs said that the aim of the law is basically to 'ban religious activity, and secret religious campaigns.'
"The Christian community constitutes the largest religious minority in the country. This community accounts for the time being to less than 11,000 after it was hundreds of thousands before Algeria's independence in 1962 including 110 priests and 170 monks distributed all over Algerian lands."
President Bouteflika's aggressive move against "missions of proselytising" is very surprising considering that as recently as December 2005 Algeria's Minister of Religious Affairs, Bouabdellah Ghamallah, told Al-Khabar newspaper that reports of increasing proselytisation of Algeria's Muslims were groundless. (Link 3)
AMNESTY COMES INTO EFFECT: ISLAMISTS RELEASED
In September 2005 Algerians voted overwhelmingly, through a referendum, to grant amnesty to Islamist fighters imprisoned during Algeria's civil conflict, in exchange for peace. The amnesty, part of President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, was approved by the government in February 2006, and the first wave of the 2,629 prisoners began to be released on 4 March. According to Cherif Quazani, some 10,000 condemned Islamists will eventually be released. Quazani writes (12 March) that it is inevitable that such a release of 10,000 prisoners who are "Islamists by nature" is cause for some apprehension. Quazani comments that no one can be sure that any of these Islamists have repented. He believes they view their release as a victory, adding that they left prison shouting "Allahou Akbar". (Link 4)
Critics fear that President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation seeks to whitewash years of suffering and that releasing Islamic extremists and allowing them home from exile could plant the seeds for future violence. As noted in a WEA RL Prayer bulletin of Sept 2005, genuine long-lasting peace will require a comprehensive restorative justice program as distinct from punitive or retributive justice. This would require the government follow up the amnesty with a truth commission that involves jihadists and security forces, and a comprehensive national reconciliation program. Without these any peace will only be temporary as the sores will simply fester.
But of course the issue is even bigger even than this. In December 1991 Algeria's Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) surged towards power heading for an absolute majority through democratic elections only to be stopped in its tracks by the military. The second round of voting was canceled and when the FIS was declared illegal January 1992 its partisans fled en masse to the mountains. The most radical element then began its activities as the GIA (Groupes armes islamiques, Armed Islamic Groups) and the more moderate element acted under the name MAI (Mouvement arme islamique, Armed Islamic Movement). What followed was a decade of civil conflict and horrific Islamic terrorism costing more than 150,000 lives.
However, Algeria's imprisoned Islamists would no doubt have been watching democracy in action in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories and feeling quite encouraged. Regional politics has changed a lot since 1991.
It is one thing to surrender weapons and renounce violence, but quite another to surrender aims and renounce ideology. With democracy proving so effective at empowering and legitimising Islamists, even militant Islamists, maybe renouncing violence is not such a compromise. It may after all only prove to be a change of strategy, not a change of direction – Islamists simply need ride a different vehicle to power.
GRASSROOTS: ISLAMISTS MOVING TO CONTROL MOSQUES
Hassan Moali wrote an article (20 February) entitled, "Islamist parties want to take hold of the mosques – The aggressions against Imams multiply", in which he alleges that Islamists are intimidating the imams not associated with their cause, infiltrating the religious associations of the mosques, and issuing threats by anonymous letters and even physical aggressions. (Link 5)
Hassan Moali claims that 20 percent of Algeria's 15,000 mosques are subject to threats and aggression from what he calls "the apostles of 'la religion partisane'". According to Moali, Islamists murdered at least ten imams in 2005, and that some were killed in their mosques in front of their congregations. Moali also asserts that courageous imams who refuse to preach the Islamist message are made the objects of devastating smear campaigns.
Moali notes that on average fourteen million Algerians would attend Friday prayer. And knowing the important role of the imam, it is easy to imagine what an appetite Islamist parties would have to control such a powerful reserve of political militant potential.
Hassan Moali names The Movement of Society for Peace (MSP: formerly Hamas) as being in the forefront of this conspiracy, adding that MSP president Bouguerra Soltani recently affirmed that his party aims to seize power in 2012.
"POLITICAL REHABILITATION"
President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation provides for the "banning of all exercise of political activity, whatever form it may take, by those responsible for the exploitation of our religion." This provision basically bans political activity by those who have committed terrorist acts. (Link 6)
Regardless of this, some very senior militant Islamists are seeking "political rehabilitation". Ali Benhadj, deputy leader of the FIS is one (Link 7), and Abdelhak Layada, one of the founding leaders of Algeria's Islamic Armed Group (GIA), is another. (Link 8)
The GIA has sought not only to create an Islamist state but to rid Algeria of Jews and Christians. According to the Terrorism Knowledge Database http://www.tkb.org/ ten percent of all GIA attacks have been directed at religious targets. On 23 October 1994 GIA shot dead two Spanish nuns leaving a chapel in Algiers. In December 1994 GIA militants killed four Catholic priests of the Order of White Fathers, in a machine-gun attack at their mission in Tizi-Ouzou. GIA then faxed news organisations claiming that the killings were part of their campaign of "annihilation and physical liquidation of Christian crusaders".
On 3 September 1995 GIA killed two more nuns in Algiers. Then on 10 November 1995 GIA shot two French nuns (one fatally) of the Little Sisters Sacred Heart as they left their home in the Kouba district of Algiers. In May 1996 GIA claimed responsibility for the kidnap, murder and beheading of seven French Trappist monks from a monastery in Medea. On 1 August 1996 a GIA bomb exploded in the home of the French bishop in Oran, killing him and his driver. The Bishop had just returned from a ceremony commemorating the deaths of the seven monks a year earlier.
Abdelhak Layada was released from his prison cell on Monday 13 March. He commented on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's Charter to Asharq Alawsat newspaper saying, "It is a significant positive step towards achieving peace but it is incomplete because it closes the door of political participation in front of us." Layada indicated he would consider returning to politics in the future. He expressed his belief that the GIA and the FIS are the key to resolving Algeria's conflict.
In the meantime, Layada has said he will co-operate with the government to achieve peace. He is offering to mediate between the government and the militants still at large. A questions opens up before us though, particularly in the light of the government's about face concerning "missions of proselytism", and the new measures against them. To what extent has the amnesty been a quid pro quo deal – is the government going to have to co-operate with Islamist? Or maybe there has not been any quid pro quo deal – perhaps President Bouteflika knowing the nature of the Islamists he is releasing is just removing a 'provocation'. Whatever the reason for these new measures, the Church in Algeria is about to face a whole new level of persecution.
Elizabeth Kendal
rl-research@crossnet.org.au
Links
1) Les nouvelles sanctions concernant l'exercice illegal du culte: Les evangelistes sous haute surveillance. By Hamid Saidani, Liberte 14 March 2006
The text is no longer available at: http://www.liberte-algerie.com/
but it can be found at:
http://www.africatime.com/algerie/nouvelle.asp?no_nouvelle=244719&no_categorie=2
for a very rough English translation just put the article title, "Les evangelistes sous haute surveillance" into a Google search. (Kabyle.com has the best translation) Do likewise with other French articles amongst these links.
2) Algeria bans Muslims from learning about Christianity
Algeria, Politics, 3/21/2006
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060321/2006032108.html
3) Algeria Downplays Proselytization Reports
CAIRO, December 25, 2005 (IslamOnline.net)
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-12/25/article06.shtml
4) Qui a peur des amnisties ? ALGÉRIE
12 mars 2006 - par CHERIF OUAZANI
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN12036quiapsitsin0
5) Algerie: les partis islamistes veulent s'emparer des mosquees
Les agressions contre les Imams se multiplient
lundi 20 fevrier 2006
http://www.afrik.com/article9488.html
6) Bouteflika unveils new reconciliation plan. 15 August 2005
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/algeria/?id=14284
7) Algerie: les islamistes liberes vont-ils etre politiquement rehabilites?
Ali Benhadj, ex numero deux du Fis, le voudrait bien
jeudi 16 mars 2006, par notre partenaire El Watan
http://www.afrik.com/article9608.html
8) Former Algerian militant leader will cooperate with government to achieve peace. By Boulame Ghamrassha 16 March 2006
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=4156
Subj: Algeria: severe new penalties for 'proselytising'
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis
From: WEA RLC Principal Researcher and Writer, Elizabeth Kendal.
A presidential order that establishes new conditions for the exercise of non-Muslim religious practice was passed in the Algerian Ummah council (Senate) on Monday 13 March, and in the Algerian National Assembly (Parliament) on 15 March. As a presidential order, the text would not have even been open to debate.
Click here for Text of Presidential Order concerning religion
An article entitled "New sanctions concerning the illegal exercise of religious worship – Evangelicals under high surveillance", was published on 14 March in the French language Algerian newspaper 'Actualite'. (Link 1)
In this article, writer Hamid Saidani laments, "The form chosen for the promulgation of this law closes the door to any debate on this subject which is extremely sensitive because it touches on a principle established by the fundamental law of the land, which is the freedom of worship and of conscience. The content of this legislative framework would certainly have been greatly benefited if the discussion had been allowed."
Saidani reports that the order, classified as No 06-03 and dated 28 February 2006, puts forward a number of arguments which call for the strengthening of the law regarding religious activities that could be considered as "missions of proselytising". According to Saidani the penal aspects of the text are, between a 2 and 5 year prison term and a fine of 50 to 100 million centimes (this amounts to approx. US$7,000 to US$14,000 (1 Algerian dinar = 100 centimes)) for anyone who "incites, constrains or uses seductive means seeking to convert a Muslim to another religion (...), or who produces, stores or distributes printed documents or audio-visual formats or any other format or means which seeks to shake the faith of a Muslim."
Saidani concludes: "It is certain that this legislation seeks to block proselytizing missions and missionaries led notably by American evangelical churches in certain regions of the country, however it remains vital that the texts be clear and explicit, and this so that the way will not be opened for the violation of individual and collective liberties established by the laws of the Republic which would be swallowed up by a revival of the demons of inquisition."
Arabic News reports that the new law "is an attempt to withstand the Christianizing campaign which had witnessed a notable activity recently especially in al-Qabayel area east of the country."(Link 2)
Arabic News also adds, "The law also bans practicing any religion 'except Islam' 'outside buildings allocated for that, and links specialized buildings aimed at practice of religion by a prior licensing.'
"One official at the ministry of religious affairs said that the aim of the law is basically to 'ban religious activity, and secret religious campaigns.'
"The Christian community constitutes the largest religious minority in the country. This community accounts for the time being to less than 11,000 after it was hundreds of thousands before Algeria's independence in 1962 including 110 priests and 170 monks distributed all over Algerian lands."
President Bouteflika's aggressive move against "missions of proselytising" is very surprising considering that as recently as December 2005 Algeria's Minister of Religious Affairs, Bouabdellah Ghamallah, told Al-Khabar newspaper that reports of increasing proselytisation of Algeria's Muslims were groundless. (Link 3)
AMNESTY COMES INTO EFFECT: ISLAMISTS RELEASED
In September 2005 Algerians voted overwhelmingly, through a referendum, to grant amnesty to Islamist fighters imprisoned during Algeria's civil conflict, in exchange for peace. The amnesty, part of President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, was approved by the government in February 2006, and the first wave of the 2,629 prisoners began to be released on 4 March. According to Cherif Quazani, some 10,000 condemned Islamists will eventually be released. Quazani writes (12 March) that it is inevitable that such a release of 10,000 prisoners who are "Islamists by nature" is cause for some apprehension. Quazani comments that no one can be sure that any of these Islamists have repented. He believes they view their release as a victory, adding that they left prison shouting "Allahou Akbar". (Link 4)
Critics fear that President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation seeks to whitewash years of suffering and that releasing Islamic extremists and allowing them home from exile could plant the seeds for future violence. As noted in a WEA RL Prayer bulletin of Sept 2005, genuine long-lasting peace will require a comprehensive restorative justice program as distinct from punitive or retributive justice. This would require the government follow up the amnesty with a truth commission that involves jihadists and security forces, and a comprehensive national reconciliation program. Without these any peace will only be temporary as the sores will simply fester.
But of course the issue is even bigger even than this. In December 1991 Algeria's Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) surged towards power heading for an absolute majority through democratic elections only to be stopped in its tracks by the military. The second round of voting was canceled and when the FIS was declared illegal January 1992 its partisans fled en masse to the mountains. The most radical element then began its activities as the GIA (Groupes armes islamiques, Armed Islamic Groups) and the more moderate element acted under the name MAI (Mouvement arme islamique, Armed Islamic Movement). What followed was a decade of civil conflict and horrific Islamic terrorism costing more than 150,000 lives.
However, Algeria's imprisoned Islamists would no doubt have been watching democracy in action in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories and feeling quite encouraged. Regional politics has changed a lot since 1991.
It is one thing to surrender weapons and renounce violence, but quite another to surrender aims and renounce ideology. With democracy proving so effective at empowering and legitimising Islamists, even militant Islamists, maybe renouncing violence is not such a compromise. It may after all only prove to be a change of strategy, not a change of direction – Islamists simply need ride a different vehicle to power.
GRASSROOTS: ISLAMISTS MOVING TO CONTROL MOSQUES
Hassan Moali wrote an article (20 February) entitled, "Islamist parties want to take hold of the mosques – The aggressions against Imams multiply", in which he alleges that Islamists are intimidating the imams not associated with their cause, infiltrating the religious associations of the mosques, and issuing threats by anonymous letters and even physical aggressions. (Link 5)
Hassan Moali claims that 20 percent of Algeria's 15,000 mosques are subject to threats and aggression from what he calls "the apostles of 'la religion partisane'". According to Moali, Islamists murdered at least ten imams in 2005, and that some were killed in their mosques in front of their congregations. Moali also asserts that courageous imams who refuse to preach the Islamist message are made the objects of devastating smear campaigns.
Moali notes that on average fourteen million Algerians would attend Friday prayer. And knowing the important role of the imam, it is easy to imagine what an appetite Islamist parties would have to control such a powerful reserve of political militant potential.
Hassan Moali names The Movement of Society for Peace (MSP: formerly Hamas) as being in the forefront of this conspiracy, adding that MSP president Bouguerra Soltani recently affirmed that his party aims to seize power in 2012.
"POLITICAL REHABILITATION"
President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation provides for the "banning of all exercise of political activity, whatever form it may take, by those responsible for the exploitation of our religion." This provision basically bans political activity by those who have committed terrorist acts. (Link 6)
Regardless of this, some very senior militant Islamists are seeking "political rehabilitation". Ali Benhadj, deputy leader of the FIS is one (Link 7), and Abdelhak Layada, one of the founding leaders of Algeria's Islamic Armed Group (GIA), is another. (Link 8)
The GIA has sought not only to create an Islamist state but to rid Algeria of Jews and Christians. According to the Terrorism Knowledge Database http://www.tkb.org/ ten percent of all GIA attacks have been directed at religious targets. On 23 October 1994 GIA shot dead two Spanish nuns leaving a chapel in Algiers. In December 1994 GIA militants killed four Catholic priests of the Order of White Fathers, in a machine-gun attack at their mission in Tizi-Ouzou. GIA then faxed news organisations claiming that the killings were part of their campaign of "annihilation and physical liquidation of Christian crusaders".
On 3 September 1995 GIA killed two more nuns in Algiers. Then on 10 November 1995 GIA shot two French nuns (one fatally) of the Little Sisters Sacred Heart as they left their home in the Kouba district of Algiers. In May 1996 GIA claimed responsibility for the kidnap, murder and beheading of seven French Trappist monks from a monastery in Medea. On 1 August 1996 a GIA bomb exploded in the home of the French bishop in Oran, killing him and his driver. The Bishop had just returned from a ceremony commemorating the deaths of the seven monks a year earlier.
Abdelhak Layada was released from his prison cell on Monday 13 March. He commented on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's Charter to Asharq Alawsat newspaper saying, "It is a significant positive step towards achieving peace but it is incomplete because it closes the door of political participation in front of us." Layada indicated he would consider returning to politics in the future. He expressed his belief that the GIA and the FIS are the key to resolving Algeria's conflict.
In the meantime, Layada has said he will co-operate with the government to achieve peace. He is offering to mediate between the government and the militants still at large. A questions opens up before us though, particularly in the light of the government's about face concerning "missions of proselytism", and the new measures against them. To what extent has the amnesty been a quid pro quo deal – is the government going to have to co-operate with Islamist? Or maybe there has not been any quid pro quo deal – perhaps President Bouteflika knowing the nature of the Islamists he is releasing is just removing a 'provocation'. Whatever the reason for these new measures, the Church in Algeria is about to face a whole new level of persecution.
Elizabeth Kendal
rl-research@crossnet.org.au
Links
1) Les nouvelles sanctions concernant l'exercice illegal du culte: Les evangelistes sous haute surveillance. By Hamid Saidani, Liberte 14 March 2006
The text is no longer available at: http://www.liberte-algerie.com/
but it can be found at:
http://www.africatime.com/algerie/nouvelle.asp?no_nouvelle=244719&no_categorie=2
for a very rough English translation just put the article title, "Les evangelistes sous haute surveillance" into a Google search. (Kabyle.com has the best translation) Do likewise with other French articles amongst these links.
2) Algeria bans Muslims from learning about Christianity
Algeria, Politics, 3/21/2006
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060321/2006032108.html
3) Algeria Downplays Proselytization Reports
CAIRO, December 25, 2005 (IslamOnline.net)
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-12/25/article06.shtml
4) Qui a peur des amnisties ? ALGÉRIE
12 mars 2006 - par CHERIF OUAZANI
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN12036quiapsitsin0
5) Algerie: les partis islamistes veulent s'emparer des mosquees
Les agressions contre les Imams se multiplient
lundi 20 fevrier 2006
http://www.afrik.com/article9488.html
6) Bouteflika unveils new reconciliation plan. 15 August 2005
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/algeria/?id=14284
7) Algerie: les islamistes liberes vont-ils etre politiquement rehabilites?
Ali Benhadj, ex numero deux du Fis, le voudrait bien
jeudi 16 mars 2006, par notre partenaire El Watan
http://www.afrik.com/article9608.html
8) Former Algerian militant leader will cooperate with government to achieve peace. By Boulame Ghamrassha 16 March 2006
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=4156