ALGERIAN MUSLIM LEADERS SAY YOUTH INCREASINGLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000837

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019
TAGS: AG KISL PGOV PREL SCUL US
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN MUSLIM LEADERS SAY YOUTH INCREASINGLY
RELIGIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador David. D. Pearce, Ambassador. Reason 1.4
(b),(d)


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador hosted an iftar for prominent
Algerian Muslim scholars September 8. All in the group, who
belong to the Algerian religious establishment, felt that
while salafist extremism lacked broad appeal in Algeria, the
Algerian religious establishment could do better in offering
a positive vision to the country's disaffected youth. They
noted increased religiosity among Algerian youth, which some
attributed to chronically difficult and deteriorating
socio-economic conditions and a perceived Western hostility
to Islam. The president of Algeria's High Islamic Council
believes Islam is capable of adapting itself to changing
modern conditions through continuing interpretation
(ijtihad). End summary.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador's guests for his September 8 iftar
for local religious scholars included presidential advisor
and head of Algeria's High Islamic Council Cheikh Bouamrane,
the director of Islamic studies at the Ministry of Religious
Affairs and professors from the faculty of Islamic studies at
the University of Algiers. Cheikh Bouamrane expressed his
appreciation for President Obama's efforts to engage the
Muslim world in a constructive dialogue, citing in particular
the President's Cairo speech. Many of the guests were
former International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
candidates.

3. (C) All in the group felt that, while salafist extremism
lacked broad appeal in Algeria, the Algerian religious
establishment could do better in offering a positive vision
to the country's disaffected youth. They noted increased
religiosity among Algerian youth, which some attributed to
chronically difficult and deteriorating socio-economic
conditions and a perceived Western hostility to Islam. Asked
about their efforts to engage youth, the guests said
Algeria's religious institutions were far younger and thus
less revered than historic Islamic institutions of higher
learning elsewhere, such as the Islamic universities of
al-Azhar in Egypt and al-Zeitoun in Tunisia. This lack of
historical stature was a relative handicap for Algerian
Islamic educational institutions. Nevertheless, Dr. Mahfoud
Smati, professor of sociology at the University of Algeria,
said that his faculty has no problem attracting students, and
all courses are fully enrolled.

4. (C) Dr. Mohamed Lamine Belghit, professor of Islamic
sciences at the University of Algiers, thought that the
Algerian government-funded religious institutions were not
well up to the task of engaging the country's youth but
noted that zaouias, religious fraternities associated with
Sufism and quite numerous in North Africa, are picking up the
slack and attracting a growing number of young Algerians.
One professor pointed to a very popular television show
featuring young men competing for the title of best Quran
reciter and noted that more youth are learning to
chant/recite the Quran.

5. (C) Abdelouahab Belaroussi, director of religious studies
at the Ministry of Religious affairs and imam of the Abou
Bakkir Seddik mosque in the Mouradia area of Algiers, opined
that younger Algerians were more religious than their
parents' generation. Other guests agreed, and also noted the
growing number of women wearing the hijab and increasing
mosque attendance. One guest told the PAO he believed
growing religiosity could be associated with the
deteriorating economic conditions or perceived attacks
against Islam from the West. Belaroussi estimated that
Algeria needed to increase its cadre of imams by
approximately 20 percent.

6. (C) The Ambassador asked about the role of interpretation
of Quranic principles (al-ijtihad). Islamic Council
President Bouamrane explained that, while fundamental Islamic
principles were timeless and unalterable, the process of
ijtihad had adapted them continuously to contemporary
conditions. He contrasted this with Christianity, which he
claimed had altered its basic principles over the course of
history. Bouamrane stated that, through ijtihad, Islam was
eminently capable of evolving in tandem with modern
conditions.

7. (U) These religious leaders also provided emboffs with
their perspectives on a recent controversy surrounding
Taraweeh prayer services, performed nightly after iftar with
recitations of the entire Quran over the month of Ramadan.
Many at the Ambassador's iftar claimed that some imams are
shortening the length of the prayers and Quran recitation
(for no more reason than to get home earlier),which is
causing some discord in religious circles. These imams
believed, however, that imams who are abbreviating Taraweeh
prayers are a small minority.

8. (U) Asked about interfaith dialogue, many of the Imams
noted that Algeria's non-Muslim community was minuscule but

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there are venues for them to discuss issues of concern with
representatives from the Christian community. One of those
attending, Smati, had a particular interest in dialogue of
civilizations, and said he had traveled frequently to Europe,
notably Spain and France for conferences on the subject.


9. (U) This event provided an opportunity for us to touch
base with the leaders of Islamic institutions in the country
and reaffirm our commitment to dialogue with peoples of all
faiths. The Ambassador delivered remarks that incorporated
key passages drawn from the President's White House iftar
statement. The group made a point of saying that they
recognized, and appreciated, the President's efforts at
outreach to the Islamic world.

PEARCE