By Buba Gagigo
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, has called on Imam Abdoulie Fatty to be moderate in his public statements to avoid undermining national security.
Last Friday, Imam Abdoulie Fatty advised President Adama Barrow against igniting tensions following the president’s announcement during his State of the Nation Address that his government is committed to enforcing the prohibition of FGM.
Responding to Imam Fatty on West Coast Radio, Minister Ceesay emphasized the importance of adhering to the law and warned against making subversive statements.
“Imam Fatty should be advised to avoid making subversive statements against the state. FGM is prohibited in this country. FGM is banned in this country, and we will not allow anybody to undermine the authority of the state. This country has laws, and people must operate in the framework of that law. What Almameh did is that, when he realised that he wanted to repeal the law, he took it to the parliament. The process must be followed, it is a democratic process. Until that process is complete, FGM is banned in this country, and it will remain so and anybody who practices it will face the full force of the law. We advised Imam Fatty, as a senior citizen, as an Imam, to be very moderate in his statements and not to do anything that will undermine the security of this country. The Gambia government will not allow that. Nobody is above the law, this country is a country of laws and the peace and stability of this country is the primary objective of the state and the state will use any measures to ensure that it is maintained,” Minister Ceesay stated.
Hon. Almameh Gibba, the National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala who introduced a bill challenging the ban, argued that the prohibition infringes on citizens’ rights. The lawmaker contends that the bill aims to uphold religious loyalty and preserve cultural norms and values.