Clérigo na Argélia defende voto como obrigação religiosa

Ativistas pedem leis mais duras para coibir prática, que tem aumentado em algumas áreas do país.

In most countries voting is a human right to be cherished and in a few countries it's even compulsory. But is it ever your religious duty? According to Muslim cleric Sheikh Chemseddine Bouroubi it is. Reportagem: Leana Hosea "If you do not vote in the upcoming elections God will punish you." That's what Algerians have been told by a prominent Muslim cleric, Sheikh Chemseddine Bouroubi. Parliamentary elections are being held in May and it's believed many Algerians are going to abstain from a vote they view as irrelevant. The authorities are so concerned about a low turnout that the state phone operator has been sending out text messages urging people to cast their ballot. Sheikh Bouroubi said Algerians should vote to maintain stability and prevent foreigners from fomenting revolution. Conditions in Algeria are similar to that in other Arab countries when it comes to widespread poverty, corruption and high youth unemployment and protests calling for democratic change did take place last year, but they did not turn into a full-scale uprising. This vote is being seen as a test of the reforms promised by the government of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to stem further discontent. He has approved over twenty new political parties and says the country is moving gradually towards democracy. But Parliament is widely considered a rubber stamp body. Power is concentrated in the president, who has ruled since 1999 and the military has a key role in a country which was until last year under emergency law. a prominent (proeminente) an important and well-known abstain from (abster de) not take part in irrelevant (irrelevante) not important or having no effect turnout (comparecimento) number of voters urging (fazendo apelo para que) trying to persuade or convince cast their ballot (depositem seu voto) vote fomenting (fomentando) encouraging full-scale (em larga escala) huge or widespread stem (conter) stop rubber stamp body (instituição fantoche) group that approves programs/policies automatically or without proper consideration BBC Brasil - Todos os direitos reservados. É proibido todo tipo de reprodução sem autorização por escrito da BBC.