Religious tensions of ideological and sectarian origin have encumbered Maghreb countries, in particular Algeria, for the past twenty years. The recent rise of a number of radical religious movements involving Ahmedism, Salafism, Shiism, Wahhabism, and takfiri ideology have raised concerns among officials in the Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, which has decided to take action by strengthening the monitoring and control of places of worship and universities — that is, the places targeted by the radical Islamists for recruits.

On May 12 in an interview with Radio Alger Chaine 3, Mohamed Aissa, the ministry's inspector general, confirmed the religious radicalization taking place in the country. Authorities, however, have indicated that they will not shirk from confronting these currents, given their awareness of the religious elite of the country.

Officials of the religious affairs ministry have concluded that these sects are putting national security and social cohesion at stake. This prospect has already had an impact on some believers, who are distancing themselves from extremist preachers.

Hadj Farid, a trader and believer, told Al-Monitor, “Since 2000, a new religious movement has emerged in our country. And honestly, I realize how difficult it is to accept the positions and ideology [of this movement].” He continued, “The movement’s philosophy is founded on violence, a phenomenon that contradicts our ancestral values, which are founded, on the other hand, on tolerance and love for one’s fellow man." Farid concluded, “It is important to pay attention to such drifts, lest we risk losing the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff.”