Imam Abdoulie Fatty has criticised female campaigners against female genital mutilation (FGM), describing them as “failed” women in life.

The prominent Islamic scholar has aligned himself with a section of Gambians who support maintaining the practice of female circumcision and have called for its decriminalisation. Their efforts were rejected by the High Court after a group, led by a member of parliament, filed a case opposing the move.

The debate around FGM in The Gambia has been tense in recent months, following the prosecution of a grandmother and her daughter-in-law, who were charged after a baby girl allegedly died from bleeding sustained during cutting. The case has reignited discussions about the legality and safety of the practice.

Speaking at a religious gathering in Killy, Imam Fatty accused campaigners advocating for the ban on FGM of being “failed people” and said they were attempting to spread what he described as a harmful ideology.

“Those women campaigning against female circumcision are failed people… they want their group to grow, but we will not sit and allow them to succeed,” he said.

He also claimed that many of the female campaigners were unmarried and were trying to influence young girls to adopt their lifestyle, rather than adhere to traditional practices.

Imam Fatty warned that his supporters would resist efforts to change what he called the cultural and religious norms of Gambian society.

His comments have sparked strong reactions, with critics arguing that such rhetoric undermines the ongoing campaign to protect girls from harmful practices.

By Adama Makasuba