Religious Freedom in Algeria

The Algerian Constitution declares Algeria a Sunni Islamic State, and the government takes an active role in regulating religious institutions. The central executive closely monitors official Sunni Islamic institutions and pays the salaries of most imams and religious leaders in an effort to combat anti-government religious movements. A 2006 presidential decree known as Ordinance 06-03 formally acknowledged the rights of non-Sunni Muslim to practice their religion within Algeria. However, the government continues to restrict the rights of Algerian Christians, Ibadi Muslims, and Jews to publicly practice their faith. Ordinance 06-03 established the National Commission for Non-Muslim Religious Services with the goal of formally overseeing and providing legal legitimacy to non-Muslim religious institutions. However, as of September 2010 the Commission had failed to register a single religious organization, and in practice non-Muslim religious congregations often are forced to meet informally or in secret. In addition, the constitution bans non-Muslims from holding high-level government positions. Muslim converts to Christianity have been imprisoned, fined, and pressured to re-convert to Islam. Proselytizing is officially outlawed, allowing religious leaders who are found guilty of “shaking the faith” of Muslims to be imprisoned. The Ministries of Religious Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Commerce are all required to approve any foreign non-Islamic text before these are allowed into the country.