The
Gambia Christian Council has urged the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC)
to entrench the word ‘secular’ in the preamble and section 1 of the draft
constitution. The council made this call on Monday during a press conference at
its office.
Since
the revelation of the draft constitution there has been an intense debate over
the expulsion of the word secular in the draft constitution released by the Constitutional
Review Commission.
The
Christian Council, however, feels that the position of Christianity in the
country is overshadowed by ‘Shariah’ which according to Bishop Odico, appeared
thirty eight times in the draft constitution, their recognition in the draft
constitution is subjected to doubt by the expulsion of the word secular and
therefore urges for its inclusion.
Bishop
Gabriel Mendy stated that on 18 December 2018, the Gambia Christian Council
submitted to the Constitutional Review Commission its proposal which advocates
for the inclusion of the word secular and other provisions it wanted to be
incorporated into the new constitution. The proposal also suggested amendments
and additions to the provisions of the current 1997 Constitution it wanted to
reflect in the draft constitution. According to the Bishop, the Constitutional
Review Commission, however, disapproved upon receiving the proposal.
“The
last 7 years has been a testing period for Gambian Christians, ranging from
encroaching on their land demarcated as cemetery for burials, wearing of veils
in Christian run schools, declaring The Gambia as an Islamic State, disparaging
remarks about Christianity from the former head of state, the threats to close
down the Christian cemetery in Banjul,” he stated. “The invitation of the
Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik who publicly made critical remarks about
Christianity and many more,” he stressed.
He
further highlighted in points key provisions of the constitution which the
council deems imbalanced and unfair and recommends that these provisions are
adjusted to a balanced and fair level to ensure unity and cohesion in the
country. He rebuffed the concept of the word secular being understood as
‘irreligious,’ ‘rejection’ and ‘exclusion’ of religious considerations in
everything pertaining to the state including not having public religious
prayers and symbols, saying “this is certainly not what the council is
advocating for”.
Chairman
of the council, Bishop James Allen Odico said, in the former regime The Gambia
was unconstitutionally declared an Islamic state and many remained silent about
it. He stressed that everyone in this nation is equal whether minority or
majority and that has to be respected. The new constitution has to promote
equity and neutrality, he added. He also stressed that what has not been in the
constitution since independence should not be there now in the new Gambia.
Pastor
Seal Jammeh, a member of the council explained incidents of bullying and
provocation of christians and confirmed that they have the records kept. He
narrated that in Serekunda two mosques were built to sandwich a church with
their speakers located in the direction of the church windows, making sure they
interrupt the Christian worshippers during fellowship.
Begay
Jabang a member of the campaign group said the Constitution Review Commission
has a mandate to carry out its duty fairly in the interest of every party.
Therefore, he said the decision to omit
the word secular could be challenged before a court of law.
