By Lamin Njie
The Momodou Lamin Touray-helmed Supreme Islamic Council has denounced Rawdatul Majalis for setting up a parallel Supreme Islamic Council saying the group is engaged in attempts aimed at hijacking the government-recognised SIC.
Gambian imams have been soaked in a bitter row over leadership of the country’s apex Islamic body, the Supreme Islamic Council. Imams under the banner of Rawdatul Majalis have accused the current leaders of Supreme Islamic Council of holding the council hostage by refusing to leave office. The imams then went on to set up a parallel Supreme Islamic Council – and last month, they unveiled their executive with top Brufut cleric Nano Hydara chosen as its president.
The government-recognised Supreme Islamic Council in a statement on Monday denounced Rawdatul Majalis branding the group’s move as ‘illegal’.
“The Majmuatu Rawdatul Majalis have tried and failed to denounce the legally constituted council and have resorted to abuses. We wish to remind the public that the legally Constituted GSIC is a non-government organization established by Government intervention to have a strong working relationship as provided in the Constitution of the Council on all Islamic matters,” the statement signed by President Imam Momodou Lamin Touray said.
The statement then added: “The Constitution defines in article 18 the qualification of membership for the Council. Article 35 provides the legal term for membership and eligibility. Article 36 makes provision for the expiration of the legal term and the process for the supervision of general election for the positions of regional offices etc.
“As an illegal body the Rawdatul Majalis cannot therefore come and wants to hijack a legally constituted Council as the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council. Unilateral action from the Rawdatul Majalis is a violation of the constitution and should be denounced vehemently and opposed in its strongest terms.
“The Rawdatul Mejalis is not a registered organization to the GSIC, nor attached to any Islamic body. It has no right to the title of Gambia Supreme Islamic Council or call itself Supreme Islamic Council. The Rawdatul Majalis is spreading false information about its existence to the public and the Islamic Institutions. This is totally against the teachings of Islam.
“The mention of personalities in their statements to whom they claim to enjoy their fraternal support is totally untrue. This must stop. The GSIC is using the press and electronic media to clarify what is seen as total false and an irresponsible way by the Rawdatul Maj alis to the general public and more directly to the Islamic Umah.”
