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Arab Spring Is Now Targeting Algeria

Algeria’s Islamists, in the political wilderness since their last attempt to win power dissolved into civil war, are now trying again, galvanized by the success of their brethren elsewhere in north Africa in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Published

13 years ago

December 8, 2011

Geoffrey Grider

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(Reuters) – Algeria’s Islamists, in the political wilderness since their last attempt to win power dissolved into civil war, are now trying again, galvanized by the success of their brethren elsewhere in north Africa in the wake of the “Arab Spring”.

Riot policemen clash with university students from marching during a demonstration in which they demand political change in Algiers May 2, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Zohra Bensemra

Most Islamists in Algeria have been excluded from political life since the conflict, but in the past few months they have shown renewed signs of activity, much of it conducted from exile to dodge the attentions of the Algerian state.

They have set up a satellite television station based in Europe, sent delegations to Arab countries that saw revolutions this year, and made tentative forays into anti-government protests.

Their chances of success are slim: they are divided into rival ideological camps, hemmed in by the powerful Algerian security apparatus, and, most importantly, discredited in the eyes of many people by a conflict in which they took part and which killed an estimated 200,000 people.

But they see an opportunity in the upheavals of the “Arab Spring,” which have this year unseated entrenched secularist leaders. In neighboring Tunisia, a previously outlawed Islamist movement has come to power, while in Egypt Islamists have taken a strong early lead in multi-stage parliamentary elections.

“Tunisia was an example and launcher of this (Arab Spring) revolution,” said Abdullah Anas, a London-based member of the leadership council of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which is banned in Algeria.

“It could be a very good example for Algeria.”

LEGACY OF VIOLENCE

Any Islamist revival in Algeria, an OPEC member and supplier of about a fifth of Europe’s imported gas, would have first to shed the burden of the country’s bloody history.

Twenty years ago, FIS was poised to win a legislative election, called after street protests forced the authorities to loosen their grip on power. FIS said it would impose an Islamic state.

The military-backed government stepped in to annul the election. The Islamists took up arms and Algeria slipped into a conflict of horrific violence. Civilians had their throats slit in the street; in the mornings, people woke up to find their towns littered with bodies.

A rump of Islamists, now operating under the banner of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, is still fighting. They periodically ambush security forces in the countryside, kidnap Westerners and stage suicide bombings.

But the violence has subsided considerably. A huge security crackdown has rounded up thousands of insurgents. Others have laid down their arms and been granted an amnesty, in exchange for an undertaking to stay out of politics.

This legacy is the biggest obstacle to any comeback by Algeria’s Islamists.

“Since then (the conflict), the Islamist was no longer seen as a hero who stands up against tyranny,” said Soheib Bencheikh, a theologian who used to be the chief cleric at the mosque in Marseilles, France, where there is a large Algerian community.

“On the contrary, he became, in the eyes of public opinion, accountable for the pain and suffering of the people,” Bencheikh told Reuters.

A fear of a return to violence helps explain why Algeria has this year remained relatively calm while neighboring countries have been convulsed by unrest.

TV STATION

But the Islamists still believe that Algeria is ripe for change, and are beginning to take practical steps.

Starting in November, a group of exiled Islamists with links to FIS set up a Europe-based television station, called Rachad TV. Carried by the Atlantic Bird 7 and Nilesat satellites , the station can be picked up in Algeria, where most homes have a dish.

It broadcasts political and social programs where opposition leaders and activists — most of them harshly critical of the government — are invited to comment on Algeria.

At the top of the station’s homepage on the Internet, there is a link to show viewers “how to free your country”, and a second link to help them “organize and participate in unrest.”

The exiles say they are also building contacts with other countries where “Arab Spring” revolts have propelled Islamists into a position of power.

Rachad says on its website that it sent a delegation to Libya in late September to meet officials in the new government, in which Islamists have a prominent role.

Abdullah Anas, the exiled Islamist in London, said there had also been contacts with Rachid Ghannouchi, the head of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party. Since an election in October his party leads Tunisia’s coalition government.

Tunisia’s experience had proved that it is possible to open up the political space in north Africa, said Anas.

“Everyone in Algeria must understand that Algeria has room for all … no matter what opinions you have,” he said, calling for a lifting of political curbs and the possibility of power-sharing between previously antagonistic groups.

SALAFISTS STIRRING

Inside Algeria, the most influential Islamist force are the Salafists, followers of an ultra-purist interpretation of Islam. Unlike the FIS, they are tolerated by the Algerian state because their creed forbids participation in politics.

When Algeria was shaken at the beginning of this year by protests sparked by a spike in food prices, the spiritual leader of the Algerian Salafists, Abdelmalek Ramdani, who lives in Saudi Arabia, issued a religious decree.

It said: “As long as the commander of the nation is a Muslim, you must obey and listen to him. Those who are against him are just seeking to replace him, and this is not licit.”

Nevertheless, there are stirrings of political activity by some Salafist preachers.

Sheikh Abdelfateh Zeraoui, a former FIS member and now a well-known Salafist preacher in the Algerian capital, issued a declaration in October saying the government had to enact urgent reforms.

“Political reforms allowing us to have free political activity are key to the stability of the country. Without reforms the country may explode,” the declaration stated.

The preacher has also tried to organize protest marches in the capital, but these have been blocked by the security forces. “We have been barred from politics,” he told Reuters.

The fact that Algerian Islamists are divided dilutes their ability to stage a comeback, said Mohamed Mouloudi, an editor and specialist on Islam.

“They are no longer speaking with one voice,” Mouloudi told Reuters.

“You have the Salafists, the Muslim brotherhood, and the Djaz’airists,(who give priority to Algerian religious traditions) among others,” he said. “You have those who are for a political action, and those who consider political action as illicit.”

SUCCESSION DEBATE

Even so, a debate is now under way in earnest within the Algerian ruling elite, for the first time since the conflict began 20 years ago, about giving Islamists a role in politics.

The focus for that debate — which, like much of Algerian politics, is conducted behind closed doors — is the question of who will succeed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika when his final term ends in 2014.

One camp within the elite is backing Abdelaziz Belkhadem, a former prime minister and secretary general of the ruling FLN party. He is a secularist but is trusted by the Islamists. Opposing him is a camp of hardline secularists who have backing from the powerful security forces.

Friction spilled out into the open when a group of Belkhadem opponents inside the FLN launched a campaign to have him removed from the party leadership.

“It will be wise to promote a man like Abdelaziz Belkhadem who has good ties with Islamists as well as with decision makers inside the regime,” said Mohamed Lagab, a secularist academic at Algiers university.

“Decision makers should take into account that North Africa will be ruled by Islamists ,” said Lagab. source – Reuters

Related Topics:Algeria arab Islamists spring

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Headline News

NTEB SUNDAY SERVICE: Risen By His Own Power

Published

24 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Yes, Jesus raised Himself from the dead by His own power, but He did a whole lot more than that to arrive at Resurrection Sunday morning

The question we ask you today is this, do YOU believe that Jesus, a dead man, raised Himself by His own power? If you answered ‘yes’ to that, hold on, because there’s a whole lot more to the resurrection account than just that. Today we bring you the true life account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Preached live this morning at Bethany Baptist Church in Saint Augustine, Florida.

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Proverbs 30:4 (KJB)

YOU ARE INVITED: If you are in the Saint Augustine area, we invite you to come worship with us at Bethany Baptist Church. Bible study Wednesday night at 7PM, and Sunday Service from 10AM – 12:30PM.

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Risen By His Own Power

Risen By His Own Power

OMNISCIENT • OMNIPOTENT • OMNIPRESENT (Matt 9:4, Rev 19:6, Psalm 139:7)

JESUS PLACED HIMSELF IN MARY’S WOMB: Luke 1:35, 2 Corinthians 3:17
JESUS ANNOUNCED HIS OWN BIRTH: Luke 2:9,10 (ESV REMOVES)
JESUS PROPHESIED HIS OWN DEATH: Luke 9:22, 43-45
JESUS RAISED HIMSELF UP FROM HELL: John 10:17-19
JESUS ANNOUNCED RESURRECTION AND ROLLED AWAY THE STONE: Matthew 28:1-4 (ESV REMOVES)
JESUS ASCENDED UP INTO HEAVEN: Acts 1:9

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:38-40 (KJB)

“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” Isaiah 50:6,7 (KJB)

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (KJB)

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 (KJB)

“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” Hosea 6:1-3 (KJB)

“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” Psalm 68:18 (KJB)

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8 (KJB)

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Free Bible Program

The Carson City Correctional Facility In Michigan With Its 2,300 Inmates Is In Need Of As Many King James Bibles As We Can Send Them

Published

3 days ago

April 18, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

SHARE NOW THE END BEGINS:

The Carson City Correctional Center in Michigan has currently 2,300 inmates and a chaplain who needs as many Bibles as we can send them

Carson City Correctional Facility in Michigan is a multi-level facility consisting of 15 housing units. DRF-West consists of seven housing units; one unsecured Level I unit with 120 beds, three Level II units with 720 beds, two Level IV units with 384 beds, and a 22-bed temporary segregation unit. The Carson City Correctional Facility has 428 employees when fully staffed and the capacity to house 2,526 adult prisoners. Chaplain Lonnie wrote to us today asking for as many Bibles as we are able to send them.

“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Isaiah 42:7 (KJB)

Carson City Correctional will be the 28th prison that we will have sent Bibles to in the current “hot streak” the Lord has us on, it’s an exciting thing seeing all these facilities reaching out to us and us being able to meet each and every need that comes in. Chaplain Lonny writes to say “We have 2300 inmates within two facilities and three security levels. We would deeply appreciate as many Bibles as possible.”

Since I last wrote, we have been able to send out Bibles and books to the Heard County Jail, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Maine Correctional Center, and Moberly Correctional as well. Carson City with its current roster of 2,300 inmates is a big one, and I don’t expect to be able to send them a bible for each inmate, as that would come out to about $8,257. But realistically, if we could send them somewhere between 500 – 1,000 Bibles, that would be a wonderful start. But the final number we send is up to each and every one of you. Come help us, we need you!

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

If God has prospered you, please take a moment to click on the donate button to help us in this monumental task of providing King James Bibles, New Testaments, scripture portions, gospel tracts as well as Spanish Bibles to inmates in jails and prisons from Florida to Alaska, and every state in between. We need your prayers, we need your generous financial support, and we need you to stand with us in the closing days of the Church Age. Thank you so very much, TO THE FIGHT!!!

NOTE: If you need a 501 C3 Letter of Donation for tax purposes, please send your donation to:

NTEB Ministries
1340 N Great Neck Rd.
Ste. 1272-129
Virginia Beach, VA 23454.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Headline News

In 692 AD, The Roman Catholic Church Codified ‘Good Friday’ Along With The Unbiblical Adoration Of The Cross And The Worshipping Of The Eucharist

Published

3 days ago

April 18, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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The Roman Catholic practice of Good Friday evolved slowly in the 4th century until becoming codified at the Quinisext Council in 692 AD

The Roman Catholic Church likes to pretend that the things they do are the things that they’ve always done, and that is far from the truth. For example, worshipping of Mary was something that developed gradually over time and was not codified until 1854 when Pope Pius IX issued his Ineffabilis Deus. Yet the Vatican likes to make you think it was always that way, and that all the apostles did that, and that is a lie. Another good lie is ‘Good Friday’, much older than Mary worship but still as recent as 692.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:19 (KJB)

Look at the photo at the top of this article, this is what a Good Friday holy day looks like in Europe, this was filmed in Spain. Terrifying, isn’t it? Now you know where the Spanish Inquisition came from. Those of you who know me know that for 30 years before I got saved, I was a Roman Catholic trained in Jesuit schools, and trained as an altar boy in the dark mystery of Mass. I speak not as an outsider, but as one trained at the highest levels of Roman Catholicism.

The Roman Catholic Church created Good Friday in 692 AD, and when celebrated in Europe, this is what it looks like. Terrifying, isn’t it? This video was filmed in Spain, now you know where the Spanish Inquisition came from. Good Friday is Catholic but absolutely not Christian. pic.twitter.com/X7puYeXuqc

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) April 18, 2025

The practice of Good Friday observance traces back to ancient times, with some customs documented as early as the 4th century by Egeria. Its evolution into a day of penance and fasting commemorates Christ’s death, with the name “Good Friday” possibly originating from “God’s Friday.” The veneration of the cross likely began in Jerusalem between the 7th and 8th centuries, with references to pre-sanctified Masses dating back to the Quinisext Council in AD 692. source

WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH? CLICK TO ORDER!!

THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

Nuns
Priests
Confession to a priest
Prayer to Mary
Veneration of Mary
Christmas
Lent
Good Friday
Easter
The Mass
The Eucharist
Transubstantiation
Holy Orders
Last Rites
Purgatory

In the Bible, there is no Lent, there is no Good Friday, and the only people celebrating Easter are the pagan Romans like Herod who killed Christians. It breaks my heart seeing Baptist churches putting up signs for ‘holy week’, and ‘come celebrate Good Friday with us’, proving just how hard it is to extricate yourself from the grip of Mother Rome, even for Baptists. That’s why I wrote the handy, little guide showing you the Bible truth about the week-long passion of Jesus Christ. For extra credit, please also read ‘Lent Is Taken From The Babylonian Practice Of Weeping For Tammuz’, ‘Don’t Be Fooled Into Observing Phony Roman Catholic ‘Holy Week’ Rituals Like Easter, Here Is What Actually Happened To Jesus During His Week Of Passion’ and ‘Good Friday’ Is A Roman Catholic Invention, The Bible Says Jesus Went To The Cross On A Wednesday’ Hope it’s a blessing, enjoy and share!