By Yunus S Saliu
A Gambian Denmark-based philanthropist, Sulayman Junkung Sawaneh has expressed concern about the level of insults and use of abusive words which has become pervasive in the country.
He said some people are now insulting each other with relish and abandoning one aspect of the Gambian culture ‘respect,’ for ‘disrespect.’
Mr Sulayman who had enjoined Gambians to cultivate the act of respect and desist from the disrespectful act said it is not with disrespect or insults to one, and another “that will move the country forward, rather in togetherness we can salvage the country from its sinking situation.”
According to him, there is a need to respect the law and desist from the use of abusive and insulting words while government should not be partial when it comes to the rule of law.
He suggested that lawmakers should make a law that will discourage people from insulting and abusing saying “if there is no existing law for insult and abusive words, let them make the law. Many people have been insulting and abusing some elder Statesmen in this country getting away with it without any reprimand until recently when a man was arrested for such an act.”
But, he continued, “The law should not wait till this time before action, the law should be for everyone not for a special set of people. If not people will see the government as impartial.”
Sawanneh went on to say if there is existing law to curb abuse and insult of people on social media and people know that if you commit such offense there is no shortcut to escape “many people will desist from the act. It is baseless to arrest some people while first committers of the same offense are comfortably sitting somewhere in some place with thought of being above the law and can say anything to anyone just because he belongs.”
He, therefore, challenged lawmakers to make a law that will curb hate speech, insult, and abuse to curb this act, because you can only prosecute offenders if there is a law put in place for it.
