To forgive is divine

His Excellency the President has once again extended his hand of forgiveness to prisoners in Gambian prisons.

At the weekend, state TV announced that the President has decided to pardon some 85 prisoners in Gambian prisons, in respect of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Ahagie Dr Yahya A.A.J. Jammeh Babili Mansa, acting in accordance with Section (82) of the 1997 constitution of The Gambia has with effect from Friday July 3rd 2015 pardoned 85 prisoners,” the TV announcement said.

We would therefore like to commend the President for such divine act and show of love and concern in this holy month of Ramadan.

The gesture of pardoning the prisoners and assisting the needy is a welcome move which should be extended to others; that is, all those who in one way or the other had offended the President.

No man is perfect, hence we are bound to make mistakes; therefore, forgiving one another is a divine act, which every human being must exercise and extend to the other. It is said that, to err is human, to forgive is divine; so we could say the President has acted divinely by pardoning the 85 prisoners “within the context of the Islamic spirit of mercy and forgiveness during the holy month of Ramadan.”

We are also appealing to our compatriots to endeavour to remain law-abiding people and to respect authorities.

Furthermore, we are appealing to all Muslims to emulate the actions of the President and extend a hand of forgiveness, mercy and assistance to other people who have erred against them or have done wrong to them, especially in this month of Ramadan.

We wish all Muslims Ramadan Mubarak as we continue with the fast steadfastly in this holy month of Ramadan!

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Mahatma Gandhi