By Landing Colley
Imam Baba Leigh has reacted to those calling on him to resign from the National Human Right Commission and said they are jealous.
Dozens of people have taken on social media telling Imam Leigh to resign as commissioner from the country’s human rights commission after Standard newspaper publication headline that “Human Rights Commission urges gov’t to protect gays.”
Speaking at a press conference, Iman Baba Leigh said: “one individual, so unfortunate I have nothing in common to exchange word with asking me to resign from the commission, a commission where I feel I can help my fellow human being.”
“They are asking me to resign from the human right commission forgetting that I was human activists since in the 80s when I was a member of the ‘BAFROW’ the organization that guide the right of women up to 1986 when I became a founding member of the Gambia Community on Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of a Women –Girl Child (GAMCOTRAP).”
“Today I’m asked to resign from the human right commission because I am an Iman and a commissioner what jealousy, selfishness and ignorant is that.” He asked rhetorically that the time he was fighting for the right of the voiceless, women and those who are arrested illegally until he went in exile.
He quoted from the Quran saying: “give the right to each and every one the right he/she deserves to be given been an idol worshiper or whatever he/she is.”
He said: “I am far beyond of what they called the same sex marriage and the human right is far beyond that.”
“Gambia is not an island but is part of the world community and member to all International institution,” he added.