Algerians Embrace Quranic Courses as COVID-19 Restrictions Ease

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Algeria’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments says around one million people have registered in Quranic centers in the past week after some of the pandemic-related limits were lifted.

According to Massoud Meyad, an official with Quranic affairs of the Ministry, there are nearly 18,500 Quran training centers across Algeria that have the capacity to educate at least 1.5 million individuals, Echorouk reported.

The centers are comprised of schools and Dar-ol-Qurans that have, for now, limited their number of students due to the pandemic situation, he said.

The 2021-2022 season of Quran learning officially started last week and nearly one million people have registered in the courses. “This is an important figure and if conditions return to pre-covid days, the number may further significantly increase.”

Some 1,000 men and women preachers and imams are working in Quran centers, he said.

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments had launched a website to pursue Quranic courses since 2020 after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, it started opening up some Quranic centers since April by observing required health protocols.

The online platform has managed to attract some 65,000 learners from 15 countries.

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