Rabat, Jan. 10 -- Days before the Amazigh (Berber) New Year celebrations begin in Algeria, Algerian Muslim scholars have argued that celebrating it is haram (forbidden in Islam), dividing Algerian public opinion.

The Algerian Fatwa Commission at the Association of the Algerian Muslim Ulema has presented a controversial "fatwa," religious ruling, regarding the celebrations, asserting that it is not permissible because it originated in the pagan pre-Islamic era, the epitome of "ignorance."

The president of the commission, El Abidine Ben Hanafia, emphasized that the festivities of the new year, known as Yennayer in Tamazight (Berber) on January 12, would compete with and "hurt" the major Islamic holidays. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramad...