Mai Ahmed Fatty, leader of Gambia Moral Congress, has promised Muslim clerics campaigning for the repeal of a law banning female circumcision of his pro bono service in representing them in a court of law to ensure the law is struck off from the country’s statute books if parliament fails to repeal it. 

The former minister of interior is the lone political leader so far to publicly show his support for the repealing of the law amid a tense debate.

He was among dozens of folks who joined clerics and their followers at the country’s National Assembly to show their support for the bill to be passed. 

Speaking to reporters, Mr Fatty said he joined the clerics to defend “our religion”while citing that they doing self defence to protect the Islamic religion and their culture.

“We are not causing problems rather they are the ones causing troubles,” he said, while citing that section 22 of the 1997 Constitution which gives right to practice your faith and cultural practices without hindrance.

“I am hopeful that this law will be repealed either in parliament or in the court of law, and we are committed to ensure that this law is repealed. We are ready to defend the truth,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba