Politicizing and Controlling Religion is Dangerous.
By Madi Jobarteh
Our mosques and churches should continue to be self-reliant and self-sustaining. They should remove themselves away from government and politicians and remain as the impartial and independent voices of conscience in our society.
The allegiance of religious leaders should only be to Allah or God as laid out in the holy books for the good of their congregations or believers. No religious leader should patronize or allow to be patronized by the government.
Therefore the idea of paying a salary to the Imam Ratib and the Chair of the Christian Council is a dangerous idea which should be rejected by these religious leaders and the people. It is nothing but an attempt to control and manipulate religion in the interest of self-perpetuation in power.
This idea is a mere entry point which is the beginning of the full control and manipulation of religious leaders. Through the control of the chief imam and chief priest, the government will now have the opportunity to bring all other big or small imams and priests under their control. Most especially, it is to silence imams from raising pertinent governance issues such as corruption and abuse of power.
This is not the first time we see politicians intruding into the religious arena for selfish purposes. Our mosques and churches with their religious leaders are national assets which serve all Gambians. They are sanctuaries for the salvation of the nation. Their integrity, dignity and credibility must be left in tact.
Our religious leaders should serve as impartial voices and community and national mechanisms for peace building, guidance and unity to all our people. To guarantee their impartiality they must be independent and removed away from government. The Imam Ratib and the head of the Christian Council are national leaders who should be above all partisan and sectarian interests. Their independence is sacrosanct.
Therefore to bring remuneration for these top religious leaders will only undermine them in the long run, and exacerbate existing divisions and conflicts within some of our mosques, churches and communities. This will further undermine the credibility and legitimacy of religious leaders in general while taking away their impartiality and independence.
Minister Hamat Bah must be told to stop politicizing religion and controlling religious leaders. For centuries, our mosques and churches have been self reliant and self sustaining with the support provided by believers. The Government must leave things as they are and stay away from religion.
Our Muslim and Christian leaders must learn from not only Gambian history but also from around the world that when the state and politicians involve themselves in religious affairs, it does not end well. It does not end well for both the religious leaders themselves and for the religion itself. It alienates religious leaders away from the believers and those leaders who, one day disagree with the government end up being ostracized and victimized, thereby undermining religion and the faith of believers.
Pres. Barrow and Hamat Bah must be informed that their job is cut out for them in the Constitution and other laws, policies, programs and projects as well as in their job description to spearhead national development. Let them perform that task accordingly.
Politicizing, controlling and threatening religious leaders is not part of the laws and their terms of reference.
What the Constitution provides is that the Government protects freedom of religion. This includes that the government does not declare any state religion and also not to favor or discriminate any religion. This means the government should not create any situation that has the potential to undermine, weaken, discredit, control or harm religious leaders and bring disunity in the congregation. This idea of a salary for the Imam Ratib and the Chair of the Christian Council is in that direction.
I urge the Imam Ratib and the Chair of the Christian Council to reject this proposal. Maintain your contentment, self-reliance, dignity and independence!
For The Gambia Our Homeland
