The “Authentic Islam” on the Internet: The Official Websites of the Ministries of Religious Affairs in Algeria,Morocco,and Tunisia

Abstract

The governments of the Maghreb states appropriated and subordinated Islam after gaining independence, utilizing religion to strengthen national identity, unity, and establish political power. The goal of governmental control over religious doctrine was to stop “heterodox” Muslim beliefs and behaviors from deviating from the officially sanctioned conceptual framework of a national Islam. This study will employ a comparative methodology to examine the little-known function of the websites of the Ministries of Religious Affairs in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. It will highlight differences in the aims and scopes of these websites, as well as the state’s use of the Internet for religious purposes.