ALGIERS – Thursday, 14 September 2023 (APS) – Imams celebrate Friday their national day, decreed by the president of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in recognition of their role in strengthening the components of the religious referent and promoting national identity.
The province of Ghardaia hosts this year the official festivities of the National Day of Imam, organized under the high patronage of the president of the Republic under the theme “The function of Imam… a message, a responsibility.”
In 2021, the president of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, instituted September 15th, which coincides with the anniversary of the death of the eminent Sheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir, as the National Day of Imam, considering his scientific, cultural and social role.
In a message to the participants in the 19th conference commemorating the anniversary of the death of the prominent scholar, the president of the Republic praised the multifaceted role of Imams, “who contribute today in enlightening society to strengthen the values of moderation and middle way, and in the preservation of national identity,” in addition to their participation in the liberation of the country from colonialism.
“It is from mosques and Zawiyah that caravans of mujahideen (freedom fighters) and martyrs started their blessed popular revolutions,” the president of the Republic said, citing the “Glorious Revolution of November.”
“The efforts and actions of our Imams thwarted the schemes and plots against national unity.”
After independence (1962), imams continued their awareness raising mission, “by spreading moderation and the middle way, calling for an opposition to extremism, dedicating themselves to the moralization of social life through the dissemination of the values of probity and integrity,” and contributing in extinguishing discord, used by the enemies of the country to undermine national unity.
The president of the Republic added in his message that in Algeria, Imams assumed scientific, cultural and social roles.