Imam Adama Jaiteh has told the Gambia government and parliament to stop politicising religion in entrenching ban on female circumcision in the country to allow those supporting the practice without any suppression.

“Let them allow those who want to practice it and anyone who doesn’t want to do it, to avoid problems. Let them stop politicising our religion because their attempt to enact a law that will not be respected by the population is a sabotage to themselves. Because we will not allow anyone to undermine our religion with their laws.

“Female circumcision is religious because it’s a practice recommended by the Prophet.

“If they claim that women die in labour, I want to ask them how many women continue to die while giving birth who haven’t gone through the practice. If Islam is against female circumcision, it would have made it clear that the practice is illegal but Islam doesn’t say it is an illegal practice. Those who say female circumcision is a bad cultural practice should repent because they are lying against the prophet’s teaching. I’ve taken all my daughters during Jammeh’s time and he was the one who banned it but he never jailed anyone,” he said.

“What the MPs should talk about is too much. Look at the insecurity and crime rate in the country, and corruption. But they are not talking about these problems. The influx of illegal drugs is reaping our young people apart, but none of these activists are talked about it. We don’t compromise our religion and we own our votes. Therefore, if you make any mistake to disrespect our religion by going against it, we will vote you out. We will never joke about protecting our religion. We didn’t threaten to attack anyone, but all we say is we will protect our religion by defending it and we will vote out any lawmaker who votes against this bill,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba