Religious Educational Institutions and Their Roles in the Cultural Struggle of the Algerian National Movement, 1946–1954

Abstract

During the period 1946–1954, religious educational institutions in Algeria, represented by mosques, zawāyā, and Qurʾānic schools, played a prominent role in confronting colonial policies aimed at spreading ignorance and enforcing cultural containment. They did so through the teaching of the Holy Qurʾān and the Arabic language, and through the consolidation of religious and national values. These institutions also contributed to the dissemination of free Arabic education and the protection of Arab–Islamic identity, thereby helping preserve the national character and supporting Algerian resistance in its struggle against colonialism.