Ahmadise Amir allege Imam Fatty of castigating their Jammat

The Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jammat (Sect) Baba Trawally, has yesterday testified before the TRRC and alleged former president Yahya Jammeh's Imam Abdoulie Fatty for castigating their sect since 1997. The Salikaneh born said Fatty's Friday sermon in 1997, suggested for them to be gathered at Mc Carthy Squad to convert as Muslims or be killed. "It was then we wrote a letter addressed to the president in June 23, 1997. We told him that The Gambia have been living in absolute peace and harmony and Ahmadiyya have enjoyed that but Imam Fatty wanted to distroy it as he keep calling us none Muslims." Amir said they were assured by the government that The Gambia was circular state and the government will safeguards the religious tolerance. He added that they further told them that the sermon of Fatty is no way represented the policy of the government; adding that he is just looked as any other Imam. The sect that have been in existence since 1961, Trawally said he became the Amir in 2009 and their relationship with the government of the first republic was very cordial. He said when the world wanted to declare Ahmadiyya as none Muslims, it was Sir Dawda who defended them and said the Ahmadiyyas in his country are Muslims because they are building mosques and praying. June 1997, he testified that the then Imam of state house, Imam fatty started to castigate them. "His believe is that we are not Muslims but is not true because according to the Prophet (SAW), he said anyone who declared itself to be a Muslim, is a Muslim. Only Allah knows what's in the hearts of others and nobody or government can declared a person none Muslims." He clarified that they send a delegation of six to Imam Fatty in his compound to stop laying allegation against them but he was justifying what they are doing is wrong, instead of listening to their concerns. "Despite haven met with him for dialogue, that doesn't stop him from attacking us." He said Fatty went further to local media and said Ahmadise should be ban; he added that Fatty should be the person to be ban because he is a foreigner. Witness continued that there was a time the government made them to leave the country, in which some went to Ivory Coast and Pakistan but they were later allowed to came back with missionaries. He added that their Radio and Television programs at GRTS and other local medias were stopped because they were told to contact the Supreme Islam Council (SIC)for approval. "We are not members of SIC because we were not invited to join. They just existed in 1991 and we were in existence since 1961, so why shouldn't they contacted us." In July 2000, he explained that their mosque in Wuli was demolished, and the government took the matter to court, in which the court ruled that the mosque should be build within 60 days. "We were stopped by the chief of Wuli to build a mosque in Yorro Bawo in 2001, but eventually granted us progression." At a mosque built in Sarre Ngau on 2011, he testified that the former governor of CRR Ganyi Touray and the president of SIC Muhammad Lamin Touray ordered the demolitions of the mosque. On Dr. Zakir Neik visit to The Gambia, he stated that Zakir said the Ahmadiyyas are outside the pill of Islam and people should not take their children to Ahmadiyya or Christian schools. "Dr. Zakir attended St Peters high school in India, so why should he tells people not to attend Christian schools. Zakir will not visit a country once or twice without problem in those countries. That's why he was banned in many countries and his visit to the country bring us some problems." July 13, 2014, he testified that SIC president went to Mamud Fana with a government vehicle Plate Number GG1366, and asked them to leave Ahmadiyya. He added that he should have not did that. "SIC is seriously attacking the Jammat, most especially at Al-Fala radio where they used to say every nasty words to us." He continued that in January 2015, there was a publication by SIC that Ahmadise should not be buried in Muslims cemeteries. "Sunday 30, August 2017, when one of our member Mr. Masrit Dibba died at Kerr Sering and we brought him to Talinding and buried him there. The 1 of September 2017, we were called at Talinding police. We were asked whether we have any permit from SIC and Sheriff Bajan, the vice president of SIC stood that we are none Muslims and we should not bury our people there. Spt. Kambi openly took part by defending SIC in that case." In another similar case to bury their member at Talinding cemetery, he said they were called at Talinding police with present of SIC president, who denied them burial because he said we are none Muslims. "After we took the decease to the gate of the cemetery, we met police officers but King Colley gave ordered for the opening of the cemetery and we were able to bury the decease." On the sighting of the moon, he said they never have problem with the government, because they used to go by their announcement. He continued that one of their land at Farato-Jambur were occupied by some people; adding that they took the matter to court and it was in favor of them but still there are hundreds occupying the place. "We have more than 50, 000 members and we are law abiding. If we reacted, would have been another thing but we are peaceful people." He further told the commission that on Saturday 20 of May 2009, he was arrested by late Louis Gomez and Demba Mbaye and taken at NIA. He added he met his colleagues from GRA, saying they were released on June 2009 and he was dismissed. In his concluding remarks, he called for the secular to be put in the new Constitution, in order to avoid the problems we are encountering. ReplyForward