Imam Baba Leigh of Kanifing East mosque has responded to Imam Abdoulie Fatty, who has challenged him to a public debate over the contentious female circumcision practice.

Imam Leigh has dismissed the religious basis for female circumcision also known as FGM. He challenged religious leaders defending the practice to show Islamic evidence supporting it. 

However, Imam Abdoulie Fatty, who has been in the forefront of people defending the practice as religious, countered his counterpart and called him out to a debate.

At the end of his Friday sermon (Khutba) last week, Imam Baba Leigh said: “I want to let the public know that those challenging me have banter with me. I know them and they know me. I am a Fula and they are Kabunkas. I am their father. I don’t get myself into meaningless challenges. I am very responsible and I am respected in the world. I am open to dialogue but not debate.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba