Bakawsu Fofana |
Reports reaching The
Voice newspaper have it that the Gambian Muslim cleric, Imam Bakawsu Fofana
is arrested for the second time this year.
A neighbor told this paper that Fofana was arrested at
his home, Sanchaba Sulay Jobe, Kombo North district on August 14, 2012 by
officials believed to be members of the National Intelligence Agency (the NIA).
It is not clear the reason behind his latest “arrest” or
where he is currently detained as efforts to reach family sources was
fruitless.
However, sources corroborated that the NIA told Bakawsu
he was needed at State House in Banjul, but fails to return since being
picked-up on Tuesday evening.
Other media reports suggested the Imam disappeared.
Bakawsu Fofana, who
the Supreme Islamic Council and the Jammeh administration take a dim view of
his preaching method, was released from “unlawful detention” on June 9 this
year, following his unexplained arrest by the National Intelligence Agency on
May 31, 2012.
After nine days in
detention beyond the legal limit of 72 hours, he was granted a bail of D150,
000 of which two Gambians provided surety.
Shortly after his
release, he told The Voice newspaper in an interview “I will never give up in
spreading the words of God and establishing the truth.”
“I am not provoking
anyone and if anyone feels offended by my preaching, it is not my words. It’s
from the Holy Qur’an. I am only translating it,” he added.
He said of the
reason of his arrest: “The NIA told me that they arrested me because I provoke
people in my sermons, but I told them that I did not agree. I only said what
God and his Prophet Muhammad (SAW) mention in the Holy Qur’an.” “I ask them who
am I provoking, but they did not give any names,” he added.
“Even the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has gone through intimidation by his adversaries in
order to stop him from spreading the words of God,” he said. “I am not against
anyone, be it the government or Supreme Islamic Council. I am just spreading
the words in the Holy Quran.”
The Director of the
NIA, Mr. Numo Kujabi said to me that the President Yahya Jammeh love me and that my safety is guaranteed if I change my style of
preaching - by not commenting on issues of government, tribes and people, Bakawsu
revealed.
He also told this paper that he was beaten while in
detention. “I am advising the government to avoid religious tensions;
partisan politics should be separated from Islam, because its damages a nation
and its people should not allow people to used them for their selfish
interest,” he warned. “Many countries
have cracked-down on Islamic scholars; it later turns worst for them.”
Authors: Modou S. Joof
& Bakary Ceesay - The Voice newspaper
No comments:
Post a Comment
The views expressed in this section are the authors' own. It does not represent The North Bank Evening Standard (TNBES)'s editorial policy. Also, TNBES is not responsible for content on external links.