President Yahya Jammeh Officially Declares Gambia An Islamic State

President Yahya Jammeh has declared The Gambia "an Islamic state", but stressed that the rights of the Christian minority in the small west African country would be respected and that women would not be held to a dress code.

The announcement came as the president addressed supporters in the coastal town of Brufut on Thursday, and the comments were later broadcast on state television and repeated on his website.
"Gambia's destiny is in the hands of the Almighty Allah.

As from today, Gambia is an Islamic state. We will be an Islamic state that will respect the rights of the citizens," he was quoted as saying on the presidential website.

In television footage of the address on GRTV, seen by AFP on Saturday, the president did not go into detail about what the change would mean for the country, but he reassured Christians and followers of other faiths they would be able to worship freely.
"Christians will be given their due respect. The way of celebrating Christmas will continue," he said, adding that no one had the right to interfere with others' "way of life".
He also warned against trying to impose a dress code on women.
He said:
"I have not appointed anyone as an Islamic policeman. The way women dress is not your business," he said.
An impoverished former British colony nestled within Senegal, and famed for its white-sand beaches, The Gambia has a population of nearly two million, 90 per cent of whom are Muslim.
The remaining eight per cent are Christian and two per cent are defined as having indigenous beliefs.

Jammeh, 50, a military officer and former wrestler from a rural background, has ruled the country with an iron fist since he seized power in a coup in 1994. The main opposition party on Saturday poured scorn on the president's unexpected proclamation of an Islamic republic, saying it had no legal basis.

Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch branded Jammeh's regime one of the most repressive in the world, blaming paramilitaries and secret police for torture, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

In 2013, Jammeh withdrew his country from the Commonwealth, saying it represented "an extension of colonialism".

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Posted: at 13-12-2015 10:08 AM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero

One thing is to say some thing and another is to do as said. If the president should protect the rights  of other religions in the country, there will be no problem but with time now he will change to another thing like women should wear this or that, poeple should  drink this or will not drink that. Let us see. HUMMM!!!

Posted: at 13-12-2015 10:30 AM (8 years ago) | Hero

Here we go.Soon there will be stories of Christians looking at the koran in a negative way and being slaugthered because of the unverified rumour.

The Gambia is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Africa. How will this declaration effect that?.

Another AFRICAN LEADER thinking his country belongs to HIM and his FAMILY!

"ISIS"  (daesh) will soon be bidding for land in the country to set up buisness!!!!!

Posted: at 13-12-2015 10:45 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Good gesture, since they have highest population, no problem but rights of other faiths should be respected, salam alaykum

Posted: at 13-12-2015 11:05 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

K

Posted: at 13-12-2015 11:55 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

since he will respect other pple's belief nd religion no problem den.

Posted: at 13-12-2015 12:23 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Oh! pity the christians in Gambia. the president's declaration is not going to be the first nor the last. The world is growing to hate us as prophecied by our leader Jesus Christ.A time to hold on to what you believe.(Matt.24:3-35) 

Posted: at 13-12-2015 01:43 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Serious things

Posted: at 13-12-2015 02:55 PM (8 years ago) | Upcoming

Dis is pure and undiluted madness. Later now they subject d Christians to pain so dat they convert to dis evil religion.

Posted: at 13-12-2015 04:18 PM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero

that is why muslims should stop going to christian countries, because in muslim countries there is no freedom for other religions, they have a very repressive and controlling system to keep other religions in check, so they must be controlled and kept in check in christian countries. It is only Fair.

Posted: at 13-12-2015 04:32 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac