PROSELYTIZING IN ALGERIA: ONWARD CHRISTIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000133

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/IRF WARREN COFSKY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF AG
SUBJECT: PROSELYTIZING IN ALGERIA: ONWARD CHRISTIAN
SOLDIERS?

REF: ALGIERS 76

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas F. Daughton;
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: From June to December 2007, a steady trickle
of reports surfaced in the Algerian press about Christians
and alleged Christian proselytizing in Algeria. Since
January 2008, the frequency and length of the reports have
increased markedly, and parliamentarians from the Islamist
political party an-Nahda have called for the government to
investigate a perceived increase in Christian proselytizing.
Although the combined Christian and Jewish population of
Algeria is less than one percent of the total population, an
Evangelical Christian movement does exist here, centered
primarily in the Kabylie region, and is committed to
proselytizing. End Summary.

A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER?
--------------


2. (C) In a January 28 meeting, MP Mohamed Hudeibi of the
Islamist political party an-Nahda confirmed recent press
reports that he and fellow an-Nahda MPs had asked the
Algerian government to investigate a perceived rise in
Christian proselytizing that they believe constitutes "a
threat to the country's security." The parliamentarians said
they were awaiting a response from the Ministry of Religious
Affairs. Hudeibi, who also told us an-Nahda had been
conducting its own research on Christian proselytizing in
Algeria since 2005, steadfastly maintained that the party's
activities were not against Christians as a whole. Indeed,
he assured us that he had several Christian friends, but
admitted that most were from sub-Saharan Africa. Hudeibi
also said that an-Nahda does not believe that any of the
established churches here -- Anglican, Catholic, Seventh-Day
Adventist, Protestant Church of Algeria -- are involved in
proselytizing.


3. (C) In order to understand the importance and sensitivity
of the issue, Hudeibi said that it was necessary to know that
Islam forbids Muslims to convert to another religion and that
the French sought during the long colonial period to convert
Algerians to Christianity. At present, he maintained,
foreign interests (primarily French) are supporting Christian
proselytizing in Algeria in order to create cells of people
favorable to their interests. Hudeibi was unable to provide
statistics on the number of people who have converted to
Christianity as a result of this alleged proselytizing
activity. He nonetheless claimed that foreign cultural
institutions and foreign businesspeople were paying 5000
euros to Algerians who convert, adding that the converted
were being "exploited" because of the difficult economic
situation in Algeria. He also claimed that much of the
proselytizing is concentrated in the Kabylie region,
predominantly among people of Berber origin. Historically,
he asserted, the Berbers have been supported by the French.
Over the years, an-Nahda has called for English to be taught
in schools to counter the French influence, Hudeibi added.
For Algerians, he said, English does not have the Christian
connection that French does.

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS?
--------------


4. (C) In a February 3 meeting, Ali Khedri of the Algerian
Society for Christian Books posited that the recent spate of
newspaper articles devoted to Christians and alleged
Christian proselytizing in Algeria was due to government
efforts to appeal to certain constituency groups, presumably
Islamist, to "stir up fear." Khedri, an Evangelical
Christian, also described the situation for Christians in
Algeria as "not good" and mocked the government's legal
protections for Christians, describing them as attempts to
restrict the Christian population. Khedri's society produces
Arabic-language bibles in Algeria, which is against the law.



5. (C) Khedri asserted that the number of Christians in
Algeria was on the rise, in part because of access to

ALGIERS 00000133 002 OF 002


religious programming beamed into Algeria via satellite
channels. He said that he and others clandestinely produce
religious programming specifically for the satellite channel
Al Hayat (http://www.lifetv.tv/) and that he transmits the
programming via the internet. While he did not provide the
rate of increase, Khedri estimated the number of Christians
in Algeria to be between 30,000 and 50,000, the majority
evangelicals. He also told us that the Protestant Church of
Algeria, the officially recognized umbrella organization of
several independent churches in the country, contained 32
member churches, all of which were officially known to the
government. He added that more than 20 other Evangelical
Christian churches operated openly but without official
government recognition, since they were not registered under
the umbrella organization. According to Khedri, a convert
from Islam, the membership of the Protestant Church of
Algeria had made it a de facto Evangelical Christian
organization. He also said that he was aware of several
Christian "house groups" in which Algerians secretly worship
in homes.


6. (C) Khedri told us that he fears that the police will
arrest him soon because of his activities. According to him,
several individuals have recently been detained as part of
normal police checks for bombs. During these checks, the
police have discovered bibles. When asked about the bibles
by the police, the individuals mention his name. Khedri said
that "a decision was made" at church the week of January 27
to inform the Embassy of the incidents. Khedri maintained
that he has no contact with any other embassy. He also
confirmed that a goal of the Evangelical movement in Algeria
is to proselytize. (Note: This is in contrast to the Roman
Catholic and the Seventh-Day Adventist churches in Algeria.
End note.)

COMMENT: ONCE A MUSLIM, ALWAYS A MUSLIM
--------------


7. (C) We have not heard of any threats or violence against
Muslims who convert to Christianity in the Kabylie region,
despite the Islamic ban on conversion and the deep
sensitivities about the issue rooted in French colonial
efforts to force Christianity upon Algeria. However, as we
reported in reftel, Khedri expresses growing discomfort about
being Christian in Algeria. Given the small number of
Algerian Christians engaged in proselytizing, it is difficult
to imagine their effort reaching more than a tiny fraction of
the population. Some opponents of Christian proselytizing
are nonetheless determined to prevent it from happening at
all. In spite of that opposition, and unlike the Catholic
and Seventh-Day Adventist churches, the Evangelicals are
determined to proselytize.


8. (C) To date, Khedri has been our sole contact with the
small Evangelical movement. He has been a valuable though
limited resource in this regard, but he may be assuming a
certain elevated importance since he has served as our
gateway to the movement. We are working to establish a
relationship with the head of the Protestant Church of
Algeria, who is based in the Kabylie region. Security
concerns are hampering our efforts to speak with him.
FORD