Algiers – Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Youcef Belmahdi, today inaugurated a national forum at the National Army Club focusing on religious discourse in social media. The forum, themed “Words are a Responsibility, Influence is a Message,” aims to address the evolving landscape of religious communication in the digital age.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the two-day forum is designed to support religious content creators across various media platforms. It brings together experts from academia and specialists from diverse sectors to establish a framework for training in religious discourse. The initiative seeks to enhance communication skills, dialogue techniques, and persuasive strategies in both public and private online spaces.
Minister Belmahdi emphasized that this endeavor aims to promote positive and responsible national discourse that safeguards national identity and the Algerian religious reference. It also contributes to fortifying society and standing as a bulwark against attempts to sow discord or undermine national unity.
He highlighted the crucial need for Imams, as leaders of religious discourse in mosques and active participants in the digital sphere, to receive such training. This is particularly important in light of rapid advancements in communication technologies, including the advent of 5G in Algeria and the widespread adoption of modern technologies and smartphones.
The Minister stressed the importance of integrating religious discourse into the state’s digitalization efforts. This integration aims to disseminate values of goodness and promote constructive dialogue that unites rather than divides. Ultimately, it seeks to foster reconciliation and protect the nation from anything that could incite evil and division.
The forum reflects the government’s commitment to adapting religious discourse to the digital age, ensuring that it remains a force for unity and positive social change.
