Controversial Tujereng Islamic cleric Imam Musa Boto Saidy who called the Manjago community members “Kafir” has apologised for the offensive comment after the community petitioned the Supreme Islamic Council and the Ministry of Religious Affairs over the matter.
Handling the matter, the Minister of Religious Affairs Hamat Bah presided over a reconciliation meeting where the imam apologised and was forgiven by the Manjago community.
Speaking to national broadcaster GRTS following the meeting, Minister Bah said the matter has been resolved amicably, adding that in fact the audio was made three years ago but somebody compiled and released it on social media just days ago to a larger audience hence the current chaos.
The minister said to curb this type of incident, a law is already being developed that would move into action as soon as possible ‘where people who failed to abide by our ethics, our norms and our values, will be dealt with accordingly’.
“We could have taken the law even in this particular case but the first option was to try to resolve it amicably, without which the police would have charged this man, and I would not have wasted my time in getting that done. But since there is an apology, there is an amicable resolution of the matter, that is the best way forward and the Manjago community is satisfied with that rather than going to court to get the man punished,” Minister Bah said.
On his part, Imam Saidy offered his apology to the Manjago community accepting that he was wrong. “I want to ask for forgiveness from all Manjagos,” he pleaded.
The president of the Supreme Islamic Council Sheikh Essa Darboe begged the Manjago community to accept Saidy’s apology for the sake of God and for the prevalence of peace. He warned Saidy and other Imams to be careful with their utterances and avoid making remarks that create suspicion among communities.
The head of the Manjago community, Dodou Gomez, said it is important for people to get the message that Manjago is not a religion, but a tribe.
“However we have accepted Imam Saidy’s apology and expected that such utterances will never be made by him again,” Gomez hoped.
The Gambia Christian Council chairman Bishop Manga who attended the meeting, warned Gambians against inciting hate and violence against each other.
