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