Presidential aspirant Essa Faal has declared he has forgiven all those who have attacked his faith.
Gambians among them former secretary general Momodou Sabally have been relentless in their attack on the lawyer saying he is anti-Islam.
But speaking at a press conference at his house in Kerr Serign on Thursday, Mr Faal said: I would not ordinarily respond to this because this is profound and deep, it is an attack on my faith. But let me tell you: in this country every individual has a right to believe in whatever they want to believe. That is the law of this country, that is what keeps us in peace. That is what ensures that every individual would get want they want.
“But I’m appalled and disappointed by the attack on my faith. I’m a Muslim. There are many branches of Islam, I don’t embrace any tariha (sect). I’m a simple Muslim. I’m not a Mouride, I’m not Ahmadi, I’m not Layen, I’m not the many branches that are there. I am a Muslim. What I believe in is to do my five daily prayers and observe the five fundamental pillars of Islam. I have nothing against the Mouride as I have nothing against the Ahmadis.
“I am a peaceful and tolerant person, I tolerate everybody in the exercise of their belief. I forgive them because that is what my religion teaches me. Islam teaches me to be a charitable person and and forgiving person so I forgive them. So if they attack me in the name of Islam, I forgive them in the name of Islam.”
