Imam Touray says SIC has no power to ban, force individuals

-

The President of the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) Imam Muhammad Lamin Touray, has today testified before the TRRC and revealed that its council has no power to ban people from preaching, Sects and force people to pray the same day with them.
He testified the roles of the SIC and its pronouncements by some of its members and ban on individuals and the action it has taken to affect certain religions and sect.
The lead counsel Essa Faal put it to him that the Constitution of The Gambia provides freedom for people to worship the religion of their choice, saying during Jammeh's era, many religious and individuals' rights were violated.
He added that the commission is not set to criticise religion but to investigate the violations on religious practices and they are doing that according to the law.
Touray confirmed that it is not the mandate of the council to forced people to fast and pray. He continued that the council was not established by Act of parliament.
He said Islam doesn't have forced, adding that somebody can be on a mat without praying because pray comes from the heart. 'Allah has not given us the power to force people.'
In a video showed to him, involving former President Yahya Jammeh trying to force people to pray the same day with the council or be arrested, he said they thank God that Jammeh ordered the interior minister to arrest people, instead of them. He added that it was not in line with the sharia law.
Faal put it on him that it is also unlawfully to the laws of the country.
On the order of arresting Imams who prayed different day with the council, Touray clarified that the Islamic law doesn't give Jammeh that powers, while Faal told him that it was a violation of the rights of the Muslims but Imam said it may be.
On the issue of Sheikh Muhideen Hydara and Alkalo Boya Touray of Dasilamin Sinhajor, who were arrested on 29 July in 2014 for not accepting to pray on the day Jammeh ordered to. Imam said he made it cleared that if they had arrested Hydara because of praying different day, then lot would have been arrested because many didn't pray.
"It was not because he didn't pray that's why he was arrested but there were so many things involved."
Faal told him that government indicated that Hydara was arrested because of not accepting the lawful order of Jammeh but Imam replied that he knew 100% that Hydara was not arrested for that reason. Faal when further to asked him whether it was lawful or unlawful, Imam Touray stated that was unlawful.
Imam Touray who was born on 20 September 1955 in the village of Gunjur, has holds BA in Islamic law at Saudi and higher diploma for Arabic teaching.
Imam who is the President of Islamic solidarity organization West Africa from 1988 to date, stated that the organisation operates only in Gambia, Senegal and Guinea.
Witness Touray explained that the responsibility to established the SIC emanated after realising that Gambians who studied abroad had started to come home, and in order to have an umbrella body which will cover all Islamic organizations in the country, they have to form the council.
Whether those coming home have different ideology or perspect toward Islam, he testified that they bring different ideologies together so that they can leave in harmony. He said the council was established in 1992.
He buttressed on the responsibilities of council, saying their job is to make Islam better and if there is any dispute, they will try and bring it to an end.
He added that the SIC is a none governmental organization and the council doesn't have power to forced people or to ban; indicating one of the principle of the council, is to foster peace .
On the relationship between the council and Jammeh, he said whatever Jammeh's government need and want them to do, which is in line with the Islamic laws, they will do it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Euclid University Holds Convocation, Confers Late VP Joof

-
Image
Author: Pa Modou Cham Euclid University, on Wednesday, held a convocation for its 2023 badge and conferred late Gambia’s Vice President Badara Joof and late Chief Executive Officer of the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), Gibril Jaw of Honorary Degrees. The graduates who came from different countries across the world were conferred with degrees in their various fields of study. The event culminated with the University’s 10 years of existence in the country. Prof. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) stated that Euclid University came to the Gambia in 2013 by signing two agreements while adding that the University have a unique identity as part of the country’s very few online higher education institution.    He stated that the University has been working closely with MoHERST along a solid system and an international higher education standard and diligently participating in all processes and procedur
Read more

HJAG Elects Dynamic Executive

-
Image
Press Release The Health Journalists Association of The Gambia (HJAG), on 25th November 2023, elected a dynamic executive who will run the affairs of the Association for the next three years at an elective congress held at the NaNA conference hall. The newly-elected executive is expected to contribute immensely to addressing health reporters in the country among issues which need to be addressed. The Gambian media has been without a serious  Health Journalists Association for more than a decade. But with the coming of this dynamic group of young people, there is much hope that scores of problems facing health journalists will be addressed. Speaking shortly after the election, Pa Modou Cham, the new President of the Association, commended the esteemed members of the association for their confidence in him and his executive in office.  Mr Cham, who won the Gambia Press Union's Best Health Story Award 2022, added that: "those that are here, we value your presence. Just to tell yo
Read more

Cuba proposes actions to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

-
Havana- (Agencias) - The Foreign Minister of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, reiterated his country's invariable solidarity with the Palestinian cause and proposed several actions for a broad, fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. In a press conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that this solution requires, inexorably the exercise of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to build their own independent and sovereign State within the pre-1967 borders and with its capital in East Jerusalem. He stressed that this position has been the historical one within the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China, a bloc of which the Caribbean nation holds the pro-tempo presidency. " Every moment of impunity, inaction, passivity, double standards or silence will cost more innocent lives. We must act immediately,” stressed the head of Cuban diplomacy. In this context, he pointed out that the Cuban Ministry of
Read more