Shi'a Teachers Arrested in Algeria

Algeria's Ministry of Education has apparently arrested eleven Shi'ite teachers out of fear that they may be "importing Shi'ite ideology" in schools. The story comes from a local Algerian newspaper via Al-Arabiya (thanks to The Moor Next Door for the tip).

A spokesman connected to the Ministry of Religious Affairs claims that Algeria managed to resist "Christianization" under French colonial rule, suggesting that Algerians will similarly resist any attempt to import Shi'ism.

The report doesn't give much information on the individuals arrested or the full context of the case, so it's hard to know if this is a small outbreak of Shiaphobia (is this an official term?) or signs of a more serious religious intolerance emerging.

A few bloggers across the region have reported an increasing popular interest in Shi'ism (see Big Pharaoh). And centuries ago in the old glory days of Baghdad, Shi'ites were quite effective in recruiting "converts" among the elite of Iraqi society. Perhaps the fear today is that elites - even teachers - may will be the source of spreading and "implanting" Shi'ism (which once had quite a following across North Africa).

We await more details on the case.

Comments

[Nouri]

There traditionally been very few Shias in Algeria, except for those who were around in the Middle Ages, but there are a few native Shias and some converts. My family is sort of clandestinly Shia (and has been for many many years), and I know of may one or two other Shia Algerians that are not related to me. There was always the fear that Iran would influence Islamists in Algeria, especially during the Civil War, and the government broke off relations with Iran over it, and at the Organization of the Islamic Congress meetings in the mid/late 90's Islamists from Algeria took Algeria's place in Tehran. So, there is bad blood "officially" with Shiism, though Iranian-Algerian relations are much better today. Actual Shia growth is not a threat all, there are so few, barely statistically relevant. The government is generally hostile towards the spread of "alien" religions, mainly Christianity. Christian missionaries often enter the country illegally or under false pretenses and convert ethnic minorities (mostly Kabyles) and are accused of agitating national divisions (which is in part true, as Kabyle nationalists usually view Islam with hostility, because Islam = Arabs to them), or of causign disruptions (as most churches are usually made in basements without state supervision, the govt doesn't want people to rebell as happened when people began to create their own mosques in the 80's and 90's; all religious personel are hired, trained and employed by the state). So this is not out of character entirely, but it is odd that they are repressing an Islamic religion.

the kabyle are not an ethnic minority! They have the same ethnicity as all Algerians. They are N.Africans like other Algerians. There are no arabs in Algeria fool.

[Kamal]

The arrest of shia teacher is a good job done by the authority.We do not need any other religion.Enough,we are Algerian, we are not Iranian.Anyone wants to be shia,he has to go to Iran or South lebanon.
We do not any new religion whatsoever.Sism is disease brought by some fanatics and ignorant people.We have to stop its spread in our beloved country Algeria.
Stop shiism,stop blood.

[Abu 3amar]

I am sad to see some ignorant ppl here talks about Shia as if its a disease, ya better check your sources and stop listening to the ones telling ya Shia is bad and they are kafer etc..this is the 21 century so ya better open up and at least show some respect to your half borthers and sisters even if ya dont agree with them.

[Sunni_Algerian]

The Algerian govt must do anything to stop this satanic cult,rafidhism.
Rafidhism is a tool used by Iranians to go against the true message of prophet Muhammad pbuh. By rafidhism,they have preserved elements of old iranian religions.Just like christianity of rome preserved old-roman religions and festivals.So embracing shiaism,is becoming slave of iran.And besides shias hate 80% of companions,according to them only Ali,abu darda,ammar,bilal and salman(radiyallah anhum)defeated the mushriken and spread islam.Their religion involes curses,beatings,lying,illigal sex and fake crying.

[Mohi]

there are alot of ignorant ppl here, shia is normal islam only difference is that they love ahl al bayt, thats it, full stop. and your perception of shia is that of satanic wahbis, those are the lunatics that are destroyin islam, and if shia is so bad then how come they are the only ones keeping the americans and israel from takin over the middle east? all the "Sunna" are pretty much american puppets