Algerian former minister of religious affairs 'shoots his wife'

Former Algerian minster of religious affairs, Abdel-hafiz Amrakan, allegedly shot his wife in various parts of her body, according to local press reports.

Algerian newspaper Al-Shorouq reported that Amrakan shot his wife on Monday morning in Algiers's Zeralda neighbourhood, for reasons still unknown.

Al-Shorouq added that Zeralda residents are still shaken up as a result of the alleged shooting.

The former religious minister allegedly fired three shots at her, before she was rushed to hospital, where she is currently in recovery.

"She was fortunate that the bullets were not fatal and the wife went beyond danger after receiving the necessary help in the hospital," local sources told Al-Shorouq.

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Amrakan is currently being investigated for “the real motivations behind the attack”.

In February, a new Algerian law came into effect punishing violence against women and sexual harassment.

Before the law came into place, it had been blocked by the Senate for eight months amid resistance from conservative Muslims who view sexual abuse and domestic violence as a “family” issue that the state has no right to get involved.

Late last year, Algeria's minister of national solidarity, family and women affairs Mounia Meslem proposed that working married women in Algeria should give up their salaries to the national treasury to help their country out of its current cash problem.