By: Binta Jaiteh
Thousands of members of the Mouride community yesterday gathered at the Police Headquarters in Banjul to express their frustration and disappointment over a recent sermon by Imam Abdoul Kareem Kuyateh.
According to them, the controversial sermon contained offensive remarks about their spiritual leader, Serigne Touba.
A lawyer representing the Mouride community called the imam’s comments “disappointing and uncalled for,” and stated that as Gambian citizens, they have the right to practice their faith without harassment. He recounted that police officers asked them to maintain peace, noting that one officer (name withheld) even identified himself as a follower of the Mouride order.
Another protestor warned that inflammatory religious remarks are a major threat to social harmony and urged the government to take swift action. “For peace to exist, the government should try and act on such issues,” he said, adding that any escalation would be the fault of the authorities if such actions continued.
“We are all Muslims because we follow all the teachings of Islam,” another speaker said. “Someone cannot just stand and speak against others. It is uncalled for. We are all equal in this country, and that should be clear.”
While the protestors acknowledged the intervention of the Supreme Islamic Council, they expressed disappointment that the council’s statement did not go far enough to condemn the perceived mockery of Serigne Touba. The protestors demanded to be left alone to practice their faith peacefully.
The group emphasize that they are not terrorists and that their only desire is to live in peace and harmony. The protestors concluded by expressing their appreciation for the apologies issued by the government and the Supreme Islamic Council.