By Binta Jaiteh
Members of the National Assembly have referred the Women Amendment Bill to the Assembly’s Business Committee for committal to either a committee or committee of the whole House.
After a heated debate on Monday, 42 Members voted in favor of referral to the ABC Committee while 4 members voted against the bill and 1 abstention.
This development follows a thorough debate between the lawmakers wherein 42 members voted in favor of referral to the ABC Committee while 4 members voted against the bill and 1 abstention.
Imam Fatty in an interview on the sideline of the National Assembly said the majority of the Gambians preferred the assembly to lift the ban on Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision, adding that the first day the FoniKansala NAM tabled the bill, the member for Lower Fulladuwas against the bill, and he did the same thing yesterday.
He stated how someone can speak without knowing Islam, despite the Supreme Islamic Council saying this is part of Islam. He explained that circumcision is a part of Islam and it is a Sunnah.
“We don’t disturb anyone, enough is enough, practice the act if you want or leave it. If the assembly decides to ban FGM/C it will attract violence, we will campaign massively and our female children will be circumcised then we will see what will happen.
Any member who bans this law should be ready because we will inform each constituency about your act. Do not let anyone influence you which will lead you to go against your religion. We should not allow to be enslaved by the white men,” he said.
Almamy Gibba Foni Kansala NAM added that in Gambia we don’t mutilate but circumcise.
“We are standing on the words of Allah and the teachings of Islam. We all have seen how our country is and it is high time for us to think positively, especially in the parliament,” he said.
He informed the citizens that something was being cooked and it came only the lawmakers could remove. It is left to the citizens to choose someone who knows and is ready to fight for the truth no matter how the circumstances.
He assured the people that, the bill is not dead adding he is part of the ABC Committee. They will not see peace until the Gambians exercise their right.
Mai Ahmed Fatty expressed delight over the matter adding that as Muslims we came in peace. Let us come together and fight for our female children.
“We are not in politics but exercising our democracy” he stated
According to him, if the law is not repealed in Parliament then they are ready to face the court with full force. He urged for maintaining peace throughout the process.
