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Momodou
Denmark
11730 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Dec 2009 : 14:06:28
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GSIC Report Imam Ba-Kawsu Over ‘Tobaski’ Uproar
By: Kebba Yusupha Drammeh
Imam Ba-Kawsu Fofana was invited for questioning at Yundum Police station after some officials of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council allegedly reported him, reports reaching this paper have it.
The saga came hard on the heels after the renowned preacher reportedly slammed on The Gambia Muslim’s main governing body regarding the observance of this year’s Muslim feast of Tobaski, which saw Muslims praying on a different day.
In an interview with The Daily News at the premises of Brikama community radio station (FMB), Imam Fofana admitted been invited by the police. “ I received a phone call from Yundum police on Friday 4th December, 2009, that I should go and answer to a complaint lodged by the Supreme Islamic Council against me,” he explained.
“When I arrived at the station, I was informed that the complaint was formally lodged at Banjul Police Station by the GSIC because I was against them.”
“Against them for what?” Imam told our reporter that he enquired from the police. “I have no time for any individual but only the Holy Q’uran, the Hadith, and the teachings of Islam which I am going to be accounted for in the hereafter.”
Imam Fofana however advised both the president of The Gambia and Supreme Islamic Council in particular to build cooperation between them and the Gambian Muslim Ummah, regarding the culture of sighting of the moon to determine Muslim feasts.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), teaches us to fast when the crescent is sighted and break our fast when it is sighted,” he explained. “I therefore oppose the decision of SIC on the day of last Tobaski.
He finally called on the SIC to rely on information from the people at the grass roots level across the country regarding the sighting of the crescent so that the whole country could observe the feasts on the same day.
When contacted, the president of the Supreme Islamic Council Muhammad Lamin Touray said he could neither confirm nor deny the veracity of the story prior to meeting his committee.
The second vice president of the council Imam Gibril Kujabi also said he could not discuss the issue because he did not know anything about it. Imam Kujabi said he has been ill for sometime and does venture out.
“Infact you will be in a better position to tell me some thing about it because I am-getting the information from you” he added. “It could be possible also since SIC is a big institution. I was with the president yesterday 18th December but did not tell me any thing about it”
Source: Daily News
Picture: President of the Supreme Islamic Council Muhammad Lamin Touray
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2009 : 07:18:55
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People have a right to disagree with anything. So what is wrong about "being against" the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) and its decision of shoving the Tobaski day down the throat of all Gambians? Gambians have a right to pray, not to pray, or pray on a particular day. The determination of a Tobaski day must be a consensus, not a decree handed down to them from the State House. Gambians have no religious obligation to pray with Saudi Arabia. I think neither the Quran nor the Hadith say that we do as the Saudis, please someone can correct me on this. Although I would rather prefer the entire nation of the Gambia to have Tobaski on the same day,for centuries Gambians have prayed on different days without a fight, insult or arrests. The decision for Tobaski has been a community thing, not a national project of standardization.
It is about time the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) changed its name (from "Supreme")to National Islamic Council (NIC). The SIC must also decide immediately whether they are going to serve God or the State House  |
Edited by - kayjatta on 23 Dec 2009 07:55:47 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11730 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2010 : 18:52:07
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‘I am Banned from Conducting Islamic Programme on GRTS ’Says Ba Kawsu Fofana
By Kebba Yusupha Drammeh
Dec 31, 2009
The renowned Islamic Scholar, Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana alleged that the Supreme Islamic Council banned him from presiding over the Islamic forum programme on the state own Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS).
‘Upon arrival at (GRTS) for my usual programme called ‘Islamic Forum’, I was told by the staff that the Supreme Islamic Council sent a letter to the station to stop me from conducting programmes on the aforesaid radio station’, Fofana told Daily news on Sunday 27 December 2009.
When there were rumours in town that Imam Ba kawsu was banned from presiding over programmes on radio stations across the length and breath of the country, this reporter took it upon himself to contact the Brikama community Radio station (FMB) to find out. The Islamic program presenter Lamin Jagne said he was yet to get any information regarding the banning of Ba Kawsu from FMB Radio. He however referred me to the program manager.
The program manager Big Sam said Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana did not have a permanent program at the radio station. “We do invite him every Friday like we invite panelists from the sports departments, education, health etc. what is clear is I have not received any letter from SIC in my capacity as the program manager relating to Ba kawsu Fofana’s banning from this radio station”. The Manager said.
In an interview with Imam Fofana he confirmed the story. “The SIC sent a letters to Radio Gambia that I should not conduct any Islamic programs on the radio station. To back up my point I went to GRTS for my Thursday program and I was told that a letter was received from SIC that I should not conduct any program at the radio station as I was banned by the said Council”.
“Before this incident when SIC reported me to the police I went to the SIC president Imam Momodou Lamin Touray and asked him why he reported me to the police instead of calling me to discuss the matter. Imam Touray responded by saying that SIC announced that the Gambia should observe Tobaski prayer on the same day with Saudi but I Fofana strongly went against that. I continue to ask him whether over one thousand years the Gambia observed the feast of Tobaski with Saudi. He said no and he really agreed with me that Friday was not the right day for the Tobaski in the Gambia but instead it should have been on Saturday according to the sighting of the moon but was quick to add that he could not change the decision of the SIC. He said according to President Touray the majority of the council members insisted that we must do it on that day since president Jammeh liked it that way”.Fofana reported.
According to Imam Fofana he told Touray that governments come and go but the people remain. He said if another one comes it could go against that decision.
Again he confirmed that he sent the letter to the radio station that he Ba Kawsu should not preach in any radio station. Asked whether banning him from preaching on the radio stations would affect him, he said this would not affect him in any way, but the people would surely be affected as they are the consumers and are very much interested in his preaching.
Efforts to speak to the SIC president were futile.
Source: Daily News |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2010 : 21:08:28
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| Very sad! Thanks Momodou for the post... |
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Momodou
Denmark
11730 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 18:12:33
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"I am Not Aware of Banning Imam Ba-Kawsu"-GRTS’ Modou Sanyang
By Kebba Y. Drammeh
Modou Sanyang on the right
 The Director General of The Gambia and Radio Television Services (GRTS) has said he is unaware of his institution’s decision to bar Imam Ba-Kawsu Fofana from preaching on the radio. Imam Fofana had alleged being denied to preside over "Islamic Forum" at state-owned radio, since he denounced Supreme Islamic Council’s verdict on the observance of the Muslim feast of Tobaski on a "wrong day" last year. "I am not aware of any letter being sent to my office regarding the ban of Ba-Kawsu Fofana from doing his programme called Islamic Forum at the radio" Mr. Modou Sanyang said in an interview with this reporter at GRTS building recently.
Sanyang however said: "If really Ba-Kawsu did against Supreme Islamic Council, then I am in line with the banning because they (SIC) is the authority." In a related event Ba-Kawsu said he was also banned from preaching at Brikama Community radio, which The Daily News had confirmed. He said further that he was summoned at Yundum police for questioning after members of the SIC reported him. According to him, he confronted Imam Touray, SIC president who told him he was reported because he was against the council’s decision to observe the feast on a day council members agreed and that president desired so.
Source: Dailynews |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11730 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2010 : 17:02:54
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Islamic Council Boss Contradicts GRTS’ Modou Sanyang
By Kebba Y Drammeh
  Momodoulamin Touray (left) & Imam Ba Kawsu (right)
The President of the Supreme Islamic Council Momodou Lamin Touray has contradicted assertions made by GRTS Alh. Modou Sanyang, arguing that Mr. Sanyang is indeed aware of Imam Ba-Kawsu’s ban to preach on GRTS radio.
Imam Ba-Kawsu had alleged that he is barred from presiding over his programme on GRTS Radio after he deplored the verdict of the Gambia’s main Muslim governing body for "dictating" to Gambians into observing the Muslim feast of Tobaski on a "wrong date."
However, the Director General of GRTS, Modou Sanyang said in an interview with The Daily News recently that he is unaware of his institution’s decision to disallow the Imam from conducting his programme on the radio.
The Supreme Islamic Council President yesterday confirmed Sanyang’s knowledge of the ban, adding that the Council’s decision is to put the program on hold until they discuss with Imam Ba Kawsu on his way of preaching. "I personally handed-over Imam Ba-Kawsu Fofana’s banning letter to the Director General of GRTS, Mr. Modou Sanyang from presiding over "Islamic Forum" on the radio", he told The Daily News yesterday in interview at the Bundung Islamic School.
Imam Touray dilating on the Tobaski uproar, admitted that he had received calls from across the country and beyond, advising him not to observe the feast on the same day with Saudi Arabia because of our geographical differences.
"Ba Kawsu was behind all the blames heaped on me. We visited all the Islamic schools (Madrasas) in the Kombos and discussed with them issues relating to whether we should be relying on Saudi as regards the sighting of the [Muslim] crescent. Plans are underway to cover the whole country in a bid to having a lasting solution to the sighting of the crescent", he explained defensively.
He said the Supreme Islamic Council now "has a code of conduct", and that they "have the right to stop any Imam’s Friday sermon if what he (Imam) preaches violates the code." Imam Touray also hit hard on the press saying that the media is only interested in stories which could sell their [news] papers and not issues of public interest.
He cited an example of a near-clash between Muslims and Christians in Brikama, when Christians were drumming close to a Mosque on a particular Friday as prayers were due but none of the media reported it. Asked if he had contacted the press to have it published; he said, "NO".
Source: Dailynews |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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