Imam Abdoulie Fatty has announced “war” on attempt to allow anti-female genital mutilation in the country, as he led a huge crowd of religious leaders and their students to show support for the bill that seeks to repeal the law in the country.

The National Assembly members today held first reading on the bill titled Women’s Amendment Act 2024. The house has now adjourned session on the bill for 18 March 2024 amid divisive public opinion over the bill.

The Gambia ban female genital mutilation which punishment attracts 3 years in jail and 50,000 dalasis or both.

Speaking after the session at the Arch in Banjul, Imam Fatty said: “this is a fight that has just started and it is not getting over. And we have started the groundwork for anyone to monitor your National Assembly members.

“We have seen that this is a violation of our rights because we didn’t disturb anyone, but we will not allow any national assembly member to pass a law that will jail our mothers and people. “

“Therefore, I am calling on all those National Assembly members who vote against this bill to be voted out in the coming parliamentary elections,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba