ALGIERS: Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi insisted on Tuesday that the country protects freedom of worship following criticism from the United States.
“Freedom of worship is guaranteed within the framework of respect for the law,” Belmehdi said at a meeting attended by the Archbishop of Algiers Jean-Paul Vasco and the US ambassador to Algiers Elisabeth Moore Aubin.
“The exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms in our country is guaranteed by the constitution,” he added.
Earlier this year, Washington added Algeria to a watchlist of countries accused of restricting religious freedom, citing the closure of evangelical churches and the criminalization of blasphemy.
The United States said at the time that Algiers was “said the North African country was “engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.”
Vesco, who is French but was granted Algerian citizenship last year, is set to be appointed the first Algerian candidate in 60 years by Pope Francis next week.
The French-born prelate previously served as Bishop of Oran for more than a decade before becoming Archbishop of Algiers in 2021.
While Algerian law guarantees freedom of worship, it declares Islam as the state religion and requires government approval for places of worship and religious leaders.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in October Algeria “currently criminalizes blasphemy and restricts religious practice, worship, and observance.”
It also said authorities “continued to close churches and prosecute individuals on religion-based charges, including blasphemy, proselytization, and unauthorized worship.”
“It has also closed nearly all evangelical churches in the country with only one remaining open as of September 2024,” it added.
 

BEIRUT: Cautious calm prevailed in southern Lebanon following an intense night that shook the ceasefire agreement.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that diplomatic communications had intensified since Monday to stop Israeli violations of the ceasefire.

The Lebanese authorities documented 47 Israeli violations of the agreement as of Monday morning.

Hezbollah retaliated on Monday, targeting the Shebaa Farms and the Galilee.

The Israeli military responded by targeting southern villages where residents had just returned, killing six civilians, including a woman and a child in Haris, according to the Ministry of Health.

Two injured people were pulled from the rubble of their house.

The Israeli targets included Jabal Safi, Louaizi, Mlikh, Bouslaiya, Deir Al-Zahrani, and the outskirts of Arnoun.

Although Israeli officials had threatened to launch a severe attack on Beirut in response to Monday’s developments, urgent calls were made to reduce tensions.

Israeli media outlets reported that significant US pressure prevented Israel from attacking Beirut on Monday.

Mikati met with US Gen. Jasper Jeffers, who chairs the monitoring committee.

Mikati said: “During the calls, we emphasized the need for stability so the displaced people could return to their villages and areas, in addition to widely deploying the Lebanese Army troops in the south.”

His remarks came as Israeli forces that advanced into the border area in southern Lebanon continued to violate the ceasefire agreement by targeting towns outside the area in which they are located while warning residents against entering.

For the third consecutive day, Avichai Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, warned residents of the border area against moving south of the line of the following villages: Shebaa, Habbariyeh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yohmor, Qantara, Shaqra, Baraashit, Yater and Mansouri until further notice.

He said anyone who moved south of the line put themselves at risk.

On Tuesday, an Israeli drone targeted the town of Beit Lif in the Bint Jbeil district.

The Israeli military opened fire with machine guns in a neighborhood in the town of Haboush.

Security reports indicated that an Israeli armored force penetrated the towns of Khiam and Wazzani, spreading across several neighborhoods.

Three Merkava tanks were spotted advancing toward Burj Al-Molouk, marking the first time an Israeli incursion has reached this area.

On Monday night, the Israeli military’s violations reached the town of Kfar Melki in the Sidon district.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in Tyre and its surroundings to maintain security, marking the start of the redeployment of army units, especially in the border villages, under the ceasefire agreement.  

The Civil Defense units affiliated with Hezbollah continued to retrieve the remains of victims who perished during the war and who were not buried in their hometowns due to extensive hostilities.

The majority of these remains belong to Hezbollah fighters.

The head of the Tyre District Medical Department, Dr. Wissam Ghazal, said that 192 victims had been handed over, and the Ministry of Health, the Civil Defense, and the Disaster Unit of the Municipal Union were working to facilitate the humanitarian operations.

The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, made a public appearance after recovering from a significant injury incurred from the detonation of a pager device he was carrying, which was triggered by Israel’s actions against Hezbollah.

During his visit to the southern suburbs of Beirut, he emphasized Iran’s continued support for Lebanon and its assistance in the reconstruction efforts.