Presidential aspirant, Essa Faal, has described his critics as “childish and foolish people” as he dismissed claims against him of being an Ahmadi. 

Faal, the former TRRC lead counsel, said he is just a “simple Muslim” and doesn’t embrace any sect. 

He said he has forgiven anyone who lied against him, but warned them to desist from making such allegations against him.

“But I advise those who home are being used as the foundation to launch this infantile, because they are childish and foolish and are based on obvious falsehood,” he told reporters at a news conference held at Kerr Serign yesterday. 

“Nowadays, they don’t have a response to all the issues we say. Their response is to attack me and attack my faith. They called me an Ahmadiyya, that’s what they say. I would not ordinarily respond to this profound and deep 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’s the law of this country [and] that’s what keeps us in peace,” he added.

He continued: “But I am appalled and disappointed by the attack on my faith. I am a Muslim. There are many branches of Islam [and] I don’t embrace any ‘Tarika’ sect, I am a simple Muslim. I have nothing against the Mourids and I have nothing against the Ahmadis. I am a peaceful person and I am a tolerant person.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba