“This law that we have of banning FGM/C is inconsistent with the national law by restricting Muslims or part of the population who believe this is their religion and culture,” Hon. Ceesay said during a debate on the second reading of Women Amendment Bill – that seeks to lift ban on female circumcision in the country.
“The Constitution The Gambia is a sovereign secular republic and every citizen in this country is free to belong to any religion, practice and manifest it,” Hon. Ceesay argued.
“This constitution is the supreme law of the country and any other law found to be inconsistent with any provision of the constitution shall to the extent of the inconsistency be null and void.”
The Kiang West legislator pointed out that the Gambian constitution preaches freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice.
“If we have a law that discriminates more than 75% of the population of your country; it should be considered a bad law.”
Member for Brikama North and Minority Leader, Hon Alhagie S. Darboe, said: “We are only going to rely on information from our committee based on their consultation with our people in the constituencies as we are in position to take informed decisions that can properly guide this nation so that we can be saved.”
“We need the facts and we can only get this if they engage with people from the grassroot.”
