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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Sep 2010 : 13:20:44
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Unconfirmed report reaching Jollof News says controversial Islamic scholar and preacher, Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana, has been suspended from leading prayers or preaching at his mosque.
A source who asked for anonymity alleged that the young Imam at the center of a controversy involving the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) did not lead prayers at his mosque in Sanchaba Sulay Jobe in Serekunda, on Friday.
“I was in attendance today at the mosque of Ba Kawsu Fofana, situated at Sanchaba Sulay Jobe. To our surprise, he was not in front to do his usual sermon or lead prayers but instead informed us at the end of the prayers that the Supreme Islamic Council has ordered him not to preach in any public gathering including in his own mosque pending approval by the president,” the source stated in an email addressed to Jollof News.
Ba Kawsu could not be reached on his phone. And we could not reach the Supreme Islamic Council either for verification.
The Gambia is a secular state, but occasional pronouncements by President Yahya Jammeh have suggested otherwise. Previous warnings he directed at the Council on religious matters have been interpreted as direct interference in religious affairs, as in the Council’s relationship with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.
The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council was established in 1992. In addition to the executive body, it has a Supervisory Board made up of Imams from various communities in Gambia as well as leaders of various institutions, business people, higher institution lecturers and other opinion leaders.
Recent reports indicate growing frustration within the old guards in control of the body tasked to oversee Islamic affairs in the country. One such report alleged that the head of the Council, Momodou Lamin Touray, was soliciting President Yahya Jammeh’s support to undo the outspoken Imam Fofana.
Fearless in his discussion of issues of societal significance, Fofana has grown highly popular among especially the younger generation of Muslims in the country. He has been especially critical of the Supreme Islamic Council itself, whose leadership has since been embroiled in endless allegations of corruption and deliberate negligence of the “anti-Islamic” practices associated with President Yahya Jammeh whom they have become so close to.
Source: Jollofnews
http://www.jollofnews.com/imam-ba-kawsu-fofana-suspended.html
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 18 Sep 2010 13:22:07 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2010 : 07:12:38
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| Why is he complying with the SIC. Does the SIC has any authority to ban anyone from leading prayers or preaching at any mosque? |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2010 : 13:50:40
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Like you I have no idea,there are scholars here on bantaba who can answer your question ,but maybe they will refrain from doing so because this is DEFINATLY politics and not a religious matter,I think that is unlikly to get a SIMPLE yes or no reply,maybe the best you may hope for is a quotation from some learned work (or person) that you can put your own interpretation to.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2010 : 20:21:44
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The Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) has imposed a ban on Bakawsu Fofana, a renowned Islamic religious preacher and teacher effective Thursday 16th September 2010.
The decision was taken during an emergency executive meeting convened at the conference hall of the SIC headquarters along MDI Road in Kanifing. Bakawsu Fofana himself was present at the meeting, where he was told about the decision to ban him from preaching and conducting teachings on the Islamic religion in the Republic of The Gambia, effective the aforementioned date.
Imam Mohammed Lamin Touray, president of the SIC, said to this reporter: "It's true that the SIC banned Bakawsu Fofana from conducting preaching and teaching Islamic religious related things in public in the country. The decision was made by the executive members of the SIC last Thursday 16th of September 2010, at a meeting held in the head office of SIC in Kanifing."
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/sic-imposes-ban-on-bakawsu-fofana
This is really disturbing… the Islamic council should be able to suspend or ban people from their council but it is absurd that a bunch of grey haired bread men could curb freedom of speech. It would be interesting to see what they would do if he defy their ban. Unless I am mistaken, they have no constitutional powers whatsoever to decide who speaks where and what issues they talk about. |
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
Edited by - Prince on 20 Sep 2010 20:27:28 |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2010 : 22:15:14
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| Prince you are too generous to expect much. |
Karamba |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2010 : 13:50:19
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quote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
Why is he complying with the SIC. Does the SIC has any authority to ban anyone from leading prayers or preaching at any mosque?
Absolutely not. The SIC has no constitutional or statutory authority to supervise the propagation of the islamic faith in the country let alone the audacity to ban an Imam from preaching. This is beyond comprehension. What happens to 'Religious Freedom' in the Gambia?
Regards |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 21 Sep 2010 13:53:18 |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2010 : 16:13:39
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Kay,
He is complying with the SIC because he does not want to find himself in jail. That is an outcome we are all too familiar with by now. If an when that happens, he will be on his own. Does Femi Peters and all the other people who went to jail defending a "constitutional right" ring a bell? You all are "constitutionally" getting bent out of shape for no reason. The constitution does not mean anything in the Gambia. Time and again we are being reminded of that fact. |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2010 : 18:45:02
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quote:
Originally posted by mansasulu
Kay,
He is complying with the SIC because he does not want to find himself in jail.
This one is funny. But I thought Bakawsu is a brave man? Atleast that is what must people say about him. Maybe this one is just a tactical retreat or a surrender of necessity.
Regards |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 21 Sep 2010 18:47:28 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 07:53:19
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quote:
Originally posted by mansasulu
Kay,
He is complying with the SIC because he does not want to find himself in jail. That is an outcome we are all too familiar with by now. If an when that happens, he will be on his own. Does Femi Peters and all the other people who went to jail defending a "constitutional right" ring a bell? You all are "constitutionally" getting bent out of shape for no reason. The constitution does not mean anything in the Gambia. Time and again we are being reminded of that fact.
Exactly! Actually my question was only a rhetorical one because I knew the answer myself.
I only meant to bring out the point that Imam Ba-Kawsu doesn't have to comply with the SIC ban. I doubt that the SIC has any mandate in law to ban him from religious practice (preaching and leading prayers).
I am however disappointed that he decides to comply with the SIC's illegal ban for the obvious reason. I am always disappointed by the general Gambian tendency of avoiding jail at the first chance they have by jettisoning their rights and liberty or paying huge fines...
Gambians must be ready to go to jail (in large numbers) for the protection of their fundamental human rights. In such situations, jail is noble. Jail cannot break a righteous person. Maybe I am sounding too drastic here, but I want to see some Gambians inspired by Mandela, Sheikh Ahmed Bamba, Aun Sang Su Kye.
Okay perhaps I am asking too much, but the least I expect in this situation is for the dissident Imam, Ba-Kawsu Fofana to seek a court order nullifying the ban and an injunction for the SIC to cease and desist from interfering with his rights to religious freedom.
Unless he has a particular bone to pick with the Jammeh administration, I would recommend he focus his fight on the SIC... |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 13:57:25
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Kay,I agree with that you have written,except:
"jail is noble. Jail cannot break a righteous person."
True,BUT to ask someone to take such a dramatic stand and subject himself (or herself) to a prison sentence in Mile 2 to show their conviction of human rights,rights,or under the law of the Gambia is too extreme,Mile 2 is NOT a jail as a jail is in the US or UK,it is vastly different,without friends and family to assist with feeding etc,conditions that exist may result in the problem (the righteous person) going away and consequently passing into history.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 14:19:02
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quote:
Gambians must be ready to go to jail (in large numbers) for the protection of their fundamental human rights. In such situations, jail is noble. Jail cannot break a righteous person. Maybe I am sounding too drastic here, but I want to see some Gambians inspired by Mandela, Sheikh Ahmed Bamba, Aun Sang Su Kye.
Gambians in Gambia should sacrifice. Looks like diaspora is fully behind them by giving them lectures what to do and how to do it. They are working hard to type on the computer to provide the wisdom and morals. It is a team work. Right?
Ok, seriously, Kayjatta, it is ridiculous that you ask someone to sacrifice while you do nothing but you have an eye on the presidency. While you are fee from the risk, have your wealth in a western country and joining revolution by 'typing', people on the ground take all the risks. Not fair at all. How can you ask them to be ready to go in jail while you did not. While you ask them to do it under the socio-economic hardships while you choose to abandoned these hardships and gone to another country? I have doubt about your sincerity. The question is why you ask some one else to do something you can't do it. Are you willing to go back to Gambia and join to the political process and take the risk of going to jail? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 22 Sep 2010 14:32:48 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 14:33:42
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| Kay,is it a fact that "you have an eye on the presidency." as written by Turk or are your views and ideas that you have expressed in your postings no more than that designed to assist in a fair electorial process. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 22 Sep 2010 14:45:06 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 15:02:21
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touby
Do you have any doubt that there are always too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians in politics. Too many kayjattas very few Mandales.
p.s. LOL |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 22 Sep 2010 15:03:20 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 15:56:56
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| Indians(in the context that you write) are NOT ALL capable,there have to be chiefs,those who have that little bit extra to give, AND ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING AND IMPLEMENTING DECISIONS they have made,believing they are doing is RIGHT for the people,doing these things out of consideration for OTHERS not themselves. Dont' go off track please turk! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 16:27:15
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touby
You are too simple minded. Once the comments get little deep, you get lost. I feel like I am talking to a child when I interact with you. I am not off track. No one denies the need of chiefs. I want you to focus on 'too many' and 'very few' in my signature, than you might get the point I am making even though I know it is difficult for you to get it.
And someone who is not willing to take the risk and he is asking others to take the risk is; just saying something like, 'go die for our fight, but I am supporting you behind the platoon'. If you are not capable to understand this, just ignore the point instead of asking me not to go off the track. I am on the track, you are not. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 22 Sep 2010 16:39:22 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 16:57:34
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"You are too simple minded." Turk you WROTE the post
"touby
Do you have any doubt that there are always too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians in politics. Too many kayjattas very few Mandales.
p.s. LOL
Then my reply was to that,being simple your posting implies that you would like more people to be in power instead of a few who can be comfortable with their position,I was not making a comment on your signature but your post,being simple lets my mind filter out unnecessary clutter which brings confusion,I am happy with my filter system. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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