US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1287

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ALGIERS 001287 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF, KISL, PHUM, AG, Religion 
SUBJECT: RISE OF CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY IN ALGERIA 
 
REF: A. (A) ALGIERS 162 
     B. (B) ALGIERS 977 
 
SUMMARY AND COMMENT 
-------------------- 
 
1.  (U)  While the overall numbers are very modest compared 
to the still overwhelming Muslim population, Algeria is 
currently experiencing an unprecedented rise in conversions 
to Christianity, particularly by the Berber population in the 
Kabylie region.  Driving this trend are several factors, 
including: anti-Arab traditions in the Kabylie, social and 
economic grievances, the greater availability of religious 
literature and economic grievances, the appeal of the 
Christian message to a region that sees itself as 
dispossessed, and a perhaps subconscious desire of Berbers to 
return to their pre-Islamic Christian roots. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Although the GOA downplays any concern about being 
disturbed by Christianity or its registered churches, Islamic 
clergy have reacted negatively and a continued sharp increase 
in conversions could, over time, inject new tensions into 
already tenuous relations between the Kabylie and central 
government.  It could also subject agreement seeking to limit 
Islamic influences in the schools and in public life to new 
pressures from religious conservatives.  (End Summary). 
 
 
CHRISTIANITY GAINING ACCEPTANCE, 
-------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU)  According to the Catholic Archbishop of Algeria, 
who has lived all his life in Algeria, and a longtime 
American Methodist Pastor, who has lived in Algeria for over 
forty years and who has served as President of the 
Association of Protestant Churches of Algeria for much of 
that time, they have never seen Christianity in Algeria as 
robust as it is today.  Conversions were occurring much more 
frequently than in the past and the state, while not 
tolerating overt proselytizing, was taking a permissive 
approach to this social and religious phenomenon.  Both men 
were generally, positive about the future of Algeria and the 
prospects for Christianity in Algeria, while noting less 
enlightened views within parts of the Islamic community and 
leadership.  Reflecting this duality, the American pastor 
experienced an outpouring of Muslim support after he was 
stabbed (ref A) outside his home in January, in what appeared 
to be a religiously motivated attack. 
 
 
OUTSIDE MEDIA AND INTERNAL ACCEPTANCE FUEL CHANGE 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
4.  (SBU)  According to the Archbishop and the Pastor, 
several factors accounted for greater acceptance of 
conversions to Christianity.  First, the sheer number of 
conversions made the practice more acceptable.  In some small 
villages in the Kabylie, for example, entire families have 
converted, making up to fifty percent of the village 
Christian.  Second, Algerians themselves were converting 
Algerians, so the stigma of foreign interference dissipated. 
Finally, the availability of Bibles and the rise in the 
number of Christian-themed television and radio broadcasts 
available via satellite TV, such as Radio Monte Carlo, was 
apparent.  There were also religious broadcasts in Tamazight 
from Cyprus and Malaga, Spain.  As an example of just how 
acceptable Christianity had become, the Archbishop recounted 
a story of a Muslim woman who went out of her way to proudly 
introduce her cousin and inform the Archbishop that she was 
Christian. 
 
 
BERBERS CONVERT MORE THAN ARABS AND FOR CULTURAL REASONS 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
5.  (SBU)  The Pastor believed there was a difference between 
Arab and Berber motives for conversion.  Berbers  motives 
were more complex and rooted in a mixture of rejecting the 
violence of Islamic extremists and attempts to "Arabize" 
Berber culture.  Converting to Christianity was also a form 
of social and economic protest against a Muslim governing 
system that had left the Kabylie one of the poorest, most 
disaffected regions in the country.  At a deeper level, 
Berbers were acknowledging the failures of the current system 
and returning to their pre-Islamic roots and Christian 
heritage.  (St. Augustine was a Berber of the 4th century.) 
Even today, Christian symbols that have lost their religious 
meaning for most Kabylies appear on bread, entryways, 
jewelry, and embroidery.  For Arabs, on the other hand, it 
was a question of spirituality based more in adopting the 
ideas of the religion itself and less in its cultural 
aspects.  He added that the number of Berber conversions far 
outpaced the number of Arab conversions. 
 
 
PRESS COVERAGE OF RISE IN CONVERSIONS TO CHRISTIANITY 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
6.  (U)  A five-page article appeared in Jeune 
Afrique/L'Intelligent of May 21 entitled, "Jesus Christ on 
Algerian Soil."  Citing UN statistics, the article said 
approximately 10,000 Catholics and 5,000-20,000 Protestants 
were present in Algeria in 2002, but the author claimed the 
numbers were now dramatically higher due to the many "house 
churches".  These small churches operated usually from 
individual homes without GOA registration.  Religious 
messages and Bibles were increasingly available in Berber, 
French and Arabic. 
 
7.  (U) According to the article, the rise in Christianity 
was not confined to the Berber Kabylie region but was 
nationwide, including a large group in Oran.  Further, the 
article agreed with the American Pastor's conclusion that 
Algerians, many of whom had no contact with American or 
European evangelists, were converting other Algerians.  In 
several cases, individuals converted family members to 
Christianity because of its peaceful teachings and message of 
hope. 
 
 
GOVERNMENT REACTION GENERALLY MIXED 
----------------------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU)  GOA reaction to the rise in Christianity has been 
mixed.  Although the article in Jeune Afrique commented on 
how the Algerian Police dealt positively with the Christian 
community, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Bouabdellah 
Ghoulamallah, was more negative during a radio interview: 
"Christians are more than welcomed to practice their faith in 
Algeria, but I know that some churches are behaving like 
sects and this is what we can not tolerate....Sects have no 
future in Algeria, and although we are at the observation 
stage, we are in the process of elaborating a national 
strategy against this dangerous form of proselytism, bearing 
in mind at the same time that we have to respect our 
Constitution." 
 
9.  (SBU)  Ministry of Religious Affairs Director for Koranic 
teaching, Dr. Mohammed Aissa, told POLOFF that the GOA 
favored religious diversity and was not at all concerned 
about the rise in Christianity.  However, he was concerned 
that some people in Algeria who did not like the current 
trend might take matters into their own hands.  His concerns 
regarding Christian conversions were based on potential 
social problems, and conversions involving manipulation.  He 
had no quarrel with Christians, or with Christian churches 
registered with the GOA, but was concerned that unregistered 
churches acted outside the societal bounds that officially 
recognized churches followed.  He clarified that registered 
Christian churches in Algeria were totally autonomous from 
the Ministry and had more latitude for their sermons than 
mosques, which were given general guidelines from the 
Ministry. 
 
10.  (SBU)  During an interview on April 3, the reaction from 
President of the High Islamic Council Cheikh Bouamrane was 
not as positive.  In reference to the rise in conversions to 
Christianity in the Kabylie region, Bouamrane questioned why, 
when the GOA had proof that an evangelization campaign 
existed, the MFA and MOI had not withdrawn the authorization 
given to the "neo-conservative church" in Tizi Ouzou, or 
deported foreigners involved in proselytizing.  He also 
contended that the church misrepresented the image of Islam 
and has spread hostile discourse against the Algerian state. 
Bouamarane confirmed that the High Islamic Council sent a 
delegation to Kabylie to investigate the situation and would 
submit a report to Bouteflika. 
 
11. (SBU)  An American who resided in Algeria and ran a small 
business with his wife, was arrested and deported in May (ref 
B).  Although no official reason for the deportation was 
given, there are indications he was deported for alleged 
proselytizing.  The American told Conoff that he had 
distributed several Bibles to friends, at their request. 
Algerian officials told the American's wife to make 
arrangements to close the business and depart Algeria, as her 
visa would not be renewed.  She has since left Algeria but 
officials made her departure difficult.  The officials 
confiscated her residency permit, refused her an exit visa, 
and wanted her to sign a document referring to a decision by 
the MOI regarding her departure (she was not permitted to see 
the decision from the MOI). She was finally allowed to leave 
the country without signing the document by showing a copy of 
her residency permit to another official. 
 
AVAILABILITY OF OUTSIDE RESOURCES 
---------------------------------- 
 
12. (U)  Three of the main Christian-themed broadcasts 
available via satellite were French-language Radio Monte 
Carlo, Cairo-based Arabic-language Al-Haya TV, and 
French/German TV channel ARTE.  Another influence, available 
with the help of technology, was a French-language internet 
forum on conversion to Christianity, which was popular in the 
Kabylie region.  In addition to the influences from 
technological advances, there were also two Bible stores 
operating in the capital, which offer Christian literature in 
a variety of languages. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERDMAN