Top
Islamic cleric Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana on Thursday 6 Feb. 2020 testified before TRRC,
accusing Imam Abdoulie Fatty as someone who instigated former President Yahya
Jammeh against him. He added that Jammeh also used the Supreme Islamic Council
(SIC) as an instrument to execute his orders.
Born
at Jarra Sankunya, Imam Ba Kawsu recalled that in 2012, Fatty delivered a
sermon on 18 May, saying that he (Ba Kawsu) should be arrested and punished.
According to him, after Fatty’s pronouncement, he was arrested on May 31 by
Yankuba Badjie and taken to the NIA for nine days.
“I
was beaten and my finger was broken by Jammeh according to Ousman Sonko, who
was part of those torturing me. Jammeh was the commander of those who broke my
finger, therefore, it was him. About 10 people were part of those beating me
with pipe and covering my head with nylon bags.”
After
that beating, he said, he was interrogated and asked why he called Jammeh the
name Banjul Mansa (the president of Banjul) and told to also change his way of
preaching towards Jammeh.
He
revealed that he was a “big marabout” and to disappear was a small thing to
him.
He
recalled that on 15 August 2012, Yankuba Badjie met him with a team at his
mosque, and told him that he was needed by the NIA.
At
that time, he said, he had heard that he was to be arrested.
“I
asked them to give me time to pray two ‘rakas’. I went to my house and prayed
two rakas, where they followed me and that was the time I disappeared from
them. I am a big marabout and to disappear is a small thing for me. I went to
exile in Senegal where the Jabbie Kunda clan welcomed me.”
Imam
Ba Kawsu said he learnt more than 50 Islamic books through his father; adding
that he memorised the Qur’an within one year and four months.
In
1992, he represented Gambia in a Qur’anic competition in Saudi and got a
scholarship to study at Qur’ana University in Saudi.
On
how he got embroiled with the SIC, he answered that their mandate finished
in 2008 and former President Yahya Jammeh told them that there should be
voting.
He
testified that the voting took place on 16-17 August 2008 and he was supposed to
contest with Banding Drammeh but he (Banding) was banned by Jammeh.
“It
was then Muhammad Lamin Touray decided to contest and the voting was conducted
by the IEC.”
He
added that there was no voting and Muhammad Lamin Touray was chosen as the
leader of SIC.
After
that, he continued that he went to Touray and told him that he knew how the
elections went through, saying he prayed for him and assured his
allegiance to him.
On
the sighting of the moon, he indicated that before the Eid prayers in 2008, the
SIC members had a meeting with Jammeh, who asked them whether Gambia could pray
on the same day with Makka.
He
added that was the time they went to meet the people around the country and
anywhere they requested for the public to pray with Makka, but majority didn’t
accept.
“They
came back to Jammeh and showed him receipt of payment signed by the imams; that
the imams have agreed to pray the same day with Makka. That was the time Jammeh
said everybody should pray the same day with Makka.”
In
2009, he told the commission that Lamin Touray declared the moon was sighted at
Dasilameh Sanghajore and Makka and that everybody should pray.
After
the Eid prayers, he testified that Touray said he was disappointed because
Jammeh gave orders for the citizens to pray but some did not.
Imam
Kawsu stated that the president replied, saying those that didn’t pray is no
more SIC’s business and that he (Jammeh) will handle it and anybody who didn’t
pray would never pray again.
During Tobaski prayer of the same year, he recalled that that those that didn’t pray were more than those that prayed.
“Jammeh was disappointed because he was informed that the whole country agreed to his decision. They told Jammeh that I told the people in my sermon not to pray but he doubted them and asked how that happened? At that time, he (Jammeh) said he would start investigating me and that was the time NIA started following me.”
He
confirmed that he was called from Banjuliding police station, and was told that
the government wanted him and the SIC to speak in one voice because the SIC
reported that he used to speak against them.
Ba
Kawsu revealed that in 2010, Touray went to State House and held the Qur’an and
said: “Dr. Dumbuya and Ba Kawsu are the problems in the country.”
When
Dr. Dumbuya indicated in his sermon that Gambia cannot pray the same day with
Makka, the Imam said Touray took that to Jammeh and Dumbuya was banned from
preaching on radios.
“My
first meeting with the SIC, it was to agree with them on their decision but I never
agreed. During the discussion, Fatty asked me why I insulted the Jolas or
always discussing about them, I told him we are here to talk about the moon and not
Jolas.”
On
the allegation that he once insulted the Jola tribe, he said that never
happened, adding that Fatty told Jammeh that he insulted his tribe just to make
Jammeh angry with him (Ba Kawsu).
“Fatty
had insulted all tribes in the country and even Yahya Jammeh himself. After the
meeting, SIC wrote a letter to me that the ban has been lifted.”
