QUESTION OF THE DAY
HAVE THE CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM LEADERS SAID ANY THING ABOUT THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECLARATION OF THE GAMBIA AS AN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC?
There is need for an inter faith dialogue and solidarity to prevent Gambia being intentionally or unintentionally pushed into a state of inter-faith conflict.
Muslims are free to be Muslims and Christians are free to be Christians in a secular democratic state. Secularism has been abused in some countries where some people are left to insult the prophets of other citizens. The Secular Democratic Republic is based on the premise that all citizens, irrespective of religion, ethno-linguistic origin, gender or place of birth, are equal in Sovereignty. Hence each has the right to have what any citizen has a right to have and become whatever a citizen should become. This is what brings about unity in citizenship irrespective of diversity in religion, political opinion, gender, place of birth, ethno-linguistic origin or any other status. Section 25 Subsection (1)(c) of the constitution which is based on Secular Democratic Republican principles states that “Every person shall have the right to freedom to practise any religion and to manifest such practice…”
What type or Gambia does President Yahya Jammeh envisage by making his unconstitutional declaration?
Since no Constitutional Review Commission has been set up, no draft Constitution put in place and no Cabinet paper prepared, no one knows what kind of Republic he envisages for the Gambia and how it would affect each sector of Gambian Society. All should be concerned.
