“It would be unprecedented apostasy to do so,” said Shaiban.

By Waleed Tulmasani, Iol Correspondent

ALGIERS, January 7 (IslamOnline.net) – Algerian Islamic leaders opened fire on the government for its recent announcement to join the Francophonie Organization.

Islamic figures and scholars argue that becoming a member of the French-speaking 55-member organization means no less than a catastrophe for the Algerian culture.

“It would be unprecedented apostasy to do so,” Sheikh Abdel-Rahman Shaiban, head of Muslim Scholars Association told IOL Wednesday, January 5, two days after Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said Algeria would finally be a Francophonie member.

Belkhadem said the move comes within the context of rapprochement between Paris and Algiers, with an aim to turning a chapter marred with grudges and hatred inherited from the 132 years of French occupation of the Arab Maghreb country (1830-1962).

The Francophonie first held its meetings in Paris in 1986, in a bid to reach close cooperation among members on the areas of education, economy and culture.

The organization also help “reform” local education systems, drafting curricula and teaching French.

Protests

The Algerian government, however, came under ire from the Movement for National reform – the largest opposition party –- that said its members of parliament would protest against the government’s decision.

Its MPs would interpellate Belkhadem for taking the decision without seeking the consultation of the legislature, the deputy leader of the movement Abdelghafour Saadi, told IslamOnliune.net.

Saadi rejected claims joining the Francophonie would enhance the country’s engagement into globalization.

If this is the case, Algeria should rather turn attention to boost its links with other blocs, namely those of Arab and Islamic dimensions, he said.

Compensation

Other parties joined forces against the decision.

The Movement for the Society of Peace (HMS) -– the second largest Islamic party -- urged the government to join coalitions that would benefit Algeria and accord with orientations of Algerians.

“The authorities should rather ask France for compensation over 132 years of occupation and the killing of three million Algerians on that span,” said HMS deputy chief Abdelmajid Manasra.

However, Manasra downplayed the consequences of the official decision to join the French-speaking organization.

He said that the tendency to establish Arabic in official circles and enhance affiliation to the Arab-Islamic identity could counterbalance the move.

Muslim scholars were more vociferous in their attack on the government.

Shaiban wondered against the repercussions for the decision vis-à-vis the position of Arabic and Islam in the country.

“Arabic began to vanish from the Algerian media. It is officially absent despite a bill calling on all institutions to use Arabic in all dealings,” he said.

“The Algerian culture would suffer a catastrophe with that Francophonie. I could further say it would be unprecedented apostasy.”

In October 2002, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika first made the announcement that his country will undoubtedly join the 55-member Francophonie Organization but refrained from specifying a date.

Bouteflika noted that some said it was time for Algeria to open up to the world, 40 years after it gained its independence from France. He reminded that 1.5 million Algerians were killed for the sake of their country's independence.

Bouteflika, whose country is finally in the path of normalizing ties with France after bloody and sensitive phases between the two countries, had earlier described French President Jacques Chirac as the “spokesman of those who have no voice”.

Pro-France supporters in the Algerian government exercised great pressures in 1970s and 1980s for joining the Francophonie.

All attempts were doomed on justifications of the country’s sovereignty and historical background of colonization between France and Algeria.

Tunisia and Morocco, other two Arab Maghreb countries, are two active members of Francophonie.