Algiers, December 8, 2025 – Algeria has established definitive laws to guarantee religious freedom and safeguard all places of worship, according to Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Youssef Belmahdi.
Speaking at the opening of the fourth edition of the scientific symposium “Religious Freedom: Protection and Guarantees,” Minister Belmahdi emphasized that Algeria’s constitution and legal framework explicitly ensure the free practice of religious rites, protect all religious sites, and preserve rights without discrimination.
“Algeria has not only enshrined these principles in law but has also taken concrete steps to uphold this commitment,” Belmahdi stated. “The state actively protects places of worship and facilitates their use, all while respecting the laws of the Algerian Republic.”
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the crucial role of the National Committee for Religious Rites of Non-Muslims. This committee serves as the official platform for coordination and consultation, ensuring the protection of religious freedom for all.
“In Algeria, drawing from our position within the Islamic world and our deep historical experience of coexistence between religions and cultures, we believe that dialogue is the only path to building a world of security and stability,” Belmahdi asserted. “We are convinced that shared human values can dismantle walls of hatred and construct bridges of affection among people.”
He added, “Algeria has remained steadfast in this principle, historically serving as a land of freedoms, cultural and religious diversity, and a meeting point for ethnicities, cultures, and beliefs, as evidenced by its enduring stances throughout history.”
Minister Belmahdi also referenced President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s significant visit to the Vatican and his reception by Pope Leo XIV, underscoring that this event placed “the principle of religious freedom in its most elevated context, demonstrating that Algeria is not merely a country that espouses values in theory but actively practices them in its diplomatic relations and international outlook.”
He concluded by noting that his ministry, under the direction of the President, is working to “entrench this refined humanitarian approach and disseminate the values of peace, tolerance, and harmony among all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, fostering respect for others and reinforcing moderate religious awareness that rejects extremism, violence, and crime.”
