Recently in Gambia Category

He said it. "Gambian president: Islam is the best religion," from the Ahlul Bayt News Agency, September 14 (thanks to Twostellas):

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on Monday said Islam is not a religion of violence and that true Muslims are noble and honorable.

President Jammeh, a stanch Muslim himself, made the remarks during his annual traditional meeting with Banjul Muslim elders at State House in the Gambian capital Banjul.

He also used the forum to speak against Terry Jones in the United State who vowed to burn the Muslim holy book Quran.

"The people in the West. I want to send you a message. The message is that Islam is the best religion, and that there would be no other prophet after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)," said the president.

He said there is a lot of double standards in the West. "Your security cannot be guaranteed by fighting Islam. We Muslims will defend our religion with our blood, and we will never be intimidated," said Jammeh.

President Jammeh stressed that he has never seen any demonstration where the holy Quran is being burnt. "Any country that allows any copy of the holy Quran being burnt, Bilahi Walahi Talayi, you will regret it," he declared.

The Gambian leader asked if denying the holocaust is crime, then why not caricaturing the holy Prophet of Islam.

He further noted that such an action could endanger world peace, warning that anyone who plays with it would surely pay the price.

Insulting any religion is not freedom of expression, neither is caricaturing the holy Quran, he said.

"Caricaturing the holy Prophet (SAW) is unacceptable, and we will not accept it and there would surely be consequences. If you want your security respected then respect the security of others; if you want to be dignified, respect the dignity of others," he added.

The Gambian leader made it clear that Islam has nothing to do with the Sept. 11 World Trade Center bombing. Muslims, he stressed, do not commit suicide.

He blamed those who claimed to be Muslims and rally behind the religion in the name of Jihad to terrorize innocent people, describing such people as Kafiri (unbelievers).

Jammeh said he has given powers to the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council to deal with "those troublemakers."

"We are true Muslims, and that is why we live side by side with Christians," he said.

Intolerance, he said, would not be accepted in the country, and does not care what the international community will say.

From the Gambian Daily Observer, "Islam council boss on FGM," with thanks to Two Stellas.

Barely a week after National Assembly members concern with women and child rights called on the Supreme Islamic Council, to make their stand know on the controversial FGM issue, Alhaji Banding Drammeh, president of SIC has broken his silence over the impasse saying that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice carries no sin.

"FGM is a recommendation of the hadiths of the Prophet. It is an honour for a lady to undergo the practice of FGM,'' Drammeh said.

Pressed on the specific Hadith (teachings of the Prophet) that permits FGM, the SIC boss replied: " The practice is not compulsory in Islam. If you want to do, do it. If you do not want to do it leave it. It is an ordinary thing. We were not consulted by the NAMs on the issue. They went to Tendaba without inviting us."

Asked about the health implications of the practice on women and the girl child, Drammeh said: "It is just today that the practice is harmful. For me it is just an ordinary thing,'' he concluded.

During their tour of the provinces, the National Assembly Select Committee on Women and Children had described the "menace" as harmful to the health of the girl child. According to Nyimasata Sanneh Bojang, nominated member of the NA and member of the committee, the practice has brought about confusion as some link it to tradition, while other scholars link it to religion.

The practice has been the subject of rancour and impasse between conservative religious scholars and the women and child rights activists in the country. The practice has been abrogated in some African countries, especially Senegal, after years of struggle. But in The Gambia, activists continued to face hurdles in their quest to enlighten the masses about the health implications of the practice. They have arguing that there is no injunction in the Qur'an or the "authentic Hadiths" of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommending the practice. They have been arguing that the practice is detrimental to the health or women as it impinges on their sexual rights, with severe consequences, especially during child delivery...