Sex films sold in Algeria disguised as Islamic sermons

ALGIERS, January 21 (RIA Novosti) - Algerian police have uncovered a criminal group that made pornographic DVDs and put well-known Islamic preachers on the covers to disguise the films, the Al Shuruk al Yawmi daily reported on Monday.

Police said tens of thousands of copies of the erotic films were sold in the capital, Algiers, and that many customers bought the discs in good faith, innocently unaware of their contents.

Pornography is strictly forbidden in the North-African Muslim country.

Police said in a statement: "Apart from illegally producing and selling forbidden products, they blasphemed against our religion, misled their buyers, and hurt their religious feelings."

Special officers in the capital have seized the DVDs at all outlets found to be trading them. Several of the shops have been closed, and their owners arrested. The investigation is ongoing.