Algeria's Election Commission Warns Against Use of Religion In Campaign

In Algeria, the National Legislative Election Monitoring Commission has warned Islamist groups that the country's law on political parties prohibits the use of religion for political ends.  According to Magharebia yesterday, the Commission is concerned about Islamist candidates using religious references in their speeches. Meanwhile, the Religious Affairs Ministry has urged imams to remain neutral in tomorrow's legislative election, saying they are exploiting the office of imam by becoming involved in political arguments. The Religious Affairs Minister has called for daily reports of any recorded wrongdoing, whether by imams or political parties. In the 1990's a civil war in Algeria between the government and the Islamic Salvation Army killed over 150,000 people.