Dr. Momodou Lamin Yaffa, Vice President of Rawdatul Majalis Islamic Organisation has called on Muslims to condemned Imam Musa Boto Saidy for his recent insult on Marabouts (spiritual leader).
In an interview with The Voice on Tuesday, he also described Gambian Government Press Release issued on Tuesday August 3, 2021, as “hypocritical, disappointing and below the expectation of the Gambian people in their condemnation of religious insults coming from one Imam Musa Boto Saidy.”
He further called on all Muslims irrespective of their religious affiliation to condemn the insults meted out to Marabouts by Musa Boto Saidy, adding that such insults on Marabout are recipes for religious tensions and intolerance across the globe.
Speaking on the press release issued by Gambian government to caution Imam Boto Saidy’s on his action for insulting Marabouts, Vice President Momodou Lamin Yaffa called on Gambian Government to come out plain in condemning Musa Boto Saidy.
“This is hypocritical on the part of the government for ignoring the root cause of the problems between Imam Musa Boto Saidy and Imam Bakawsu Fofana.
It very unfortunate that government came up with a press release that has failed to address the matter here and decided to side step it, they did not take the bull by its horn which is very unfortunate step they took. Instead of take the necessary step to address this unhealthy situation they decided to put blames on both sides by calling for refrain from both parties,” Vice President Rawdatul Majalis pointed out.
He added: “For me and Rawdatul Majalis we see government press release as hypocritical because if you are to address an issues, don’t address the symptoms but address the root causes. The root cause is you have some irresponsible individuals in our society who steer violence by showing disrespect to people who are highly respected in our societies”.
According to him, all well-meaning Gambians should also come out to condemn the insults Musa Boto Saidy meted out to Marabouts, adding that the society has a duty to tell the likes of Musa Boto Saidy such insults on our venerable leaders are outrageous and intolerable in a decent society like ours.
“I want to commend Imam Mustapha Sillah, a Senegalese Scholar who came out to condemn the insults of Musa Boto Saidy. I also want to commend him for calling on the Gambian government to take a step to such actions,” Vice President Rawdatul Majalis stated.
“I also want to take this opportunity to calls on all the Morolus and the Serigns (Marabouts) here in Gambia and heads of Majalis Kundas to come out and condemn the insults meted out to our Marabouts by Musa BotoSaidy. The right thing that our Morrolus and Serigns should do is to come out and condemn the distaste and insanity insults just like how Alhagie Mustapha Sillah has done”.
According to him, it is unfortunate that the Imam insulting Gambian Marabouts is not a Gambian who has been granted citizenship, adding Musa Boto Saidy should appreciate the gesture accorded to him in the country and reciprocate such gestures with respect.
Rawdatul Majalis top officials calls on Imam Bakawsu Fofana and all concerned Gambians who are planning to harm or kill Musa Boto Saidy to drop such philosophies, adding that harming or killing the controversial Imam will be unislamic and tantamount to violation of the rule of law and uncivil.
“Killing Imam Musa Boto Saidy is not advisable also against the law and uncivilized but Musa Boto Saidy should behave responsibly. Gambians are peace loving and tolerant people and I cannot understand why a Muslim will insult his fellow Muslim simple because you have different view of interpretation.
Dr. Daffa further called on Gambian Muslims to exercise tolerance and understanding, while calling on Imams to remain neutral and non-political amidst a tense political season.
“People like Alkalos, Seefoolus and Imams should know that their congregations belong to different political, social and economic classes. If you are an Imam just stop at advising and counselling people on religious affairs but for their political choices leave that to them,” Dr. Momodou Lamin Yaffa, Vice President Rawdatul Majalis cautioned .