The Manjago community in The Gambia has called on the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council to take action against Imam Musa Boto Saidy over remarks they allege labelled the entire Manjago community as “kaafirr” and questioned the acceptability of Manjago men marrying Muslim women.

In a statement, the community condemned the alleged remarks as insulting, divisive and capable of deepening ethnic and religious tensions.

The statement was issued by Alh. Dodou Gomez, President of the Manjago Kakandang Pulund Association.

The community said it was particularly concerned that the alleged comments were made during a Friday sermon by a religious leader with a large following.

According to the statement, Imam Saidy allegedly said that “such kaafirr lying on the chest of a Muslim woman should not be accepted by Muslims.”

The Manjago community rejected the allegation that Manjagos are collectively non-Muslim, stressing that the community includes Muslims, Christians and traditional believers.

“Generations of Manjago Muslims have practised their faith with dignity, sincerity, and unwavering commitment,” the statement said, adding that no ethnic group should be treated as having a monopoly on faith.

The community also urged Imam Saidy to clarify his remarks publicly and issue what it described as an unreserved apology, particularly to Manjago Muslims who they said had been humiliated and alienated by the alleged comments.

The group has called on the Supreme Islamic Council to publicly repudiate the remarks, establish safeguards against divisive preaching and hold religious leaders accountable when their platforms are allegedly used to promote ethnic discrimination or hatred.

The community also appealed to Manjagos to remain calm and pursue the matter through peaceful and lawful means.

“We do not seek confrontation, retaliation, or division,” the statement said, insisting that its demands are for “respect, dignity, equality, and fairness.”

The community further called on religious leaders, civil society organisations and Gambians generally to reject ethnic stereotyping and protect the country’s tradition of peaceful coexistence.

By Adama Makasuba