CAIRO, December 25, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The Algerian government has dismissed as groundless reports of increasing proselytization of the country's Muslims.

"No cases of conversion (to Christianity) have been officially reported in the country," Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Bouabdellah Ghlamallah was quoted as saying by the daily Al-Khabar.

He told state-run television on Saturday, December 24, that reports about 300 Algerian Muslims converting to Christianity in the state of Moasker were groundless.

"These claims were dismissed by the Catholic Cultural Center in the state," added the minister.

Though recognizing clandestine missionary efforts playing on the youth’s unemployment and immigration dreams, Ghlamallah argued the issue has been blown out of its proportion.

"On the contrary, 60 foreigners have reverted to Islam during this year," he stressed.

Earlier reports suggested missionary work was growing in the country.

Muslims make up 99 percent of Algeria's 32.5 million population, while Christians and Jews represent a meager one percent.

The minister branded as "immoral" attempts by some parties to smuggle missionary kits, including videos and tapes, into the country.

"Many Algerian passengers were given copies of the Bible at French airports before returning home," he said.

Ghlamallah stressed that the Algerian customs authorities had confiscated a number of missionary books and tapes before entering the country.

He admitted that some of these materials have found their way into the country, arguing that they would have no influence on the Muslim people of Algeria.

The minister recalled that his ministry has already licensed a library in the country to import the Bible.

The New York Times reported last year that South Korean missionaries were taking the lead in aggressively evangelizing Muslims in Arab countries, concentrating their work in Jordan and Iraq.