Leigh, the imam of the Kanifing Estate Mosque, has been the target of criticisms and controversy since the pronouncement of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), advising government to take legal and other measures to protect human rights and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in the country – a recommendation that sparked national criticism.
Prominent among his critics was the former Presidential Affairs Minister Momodou Sabally, who called on Imam Baba Leigh and the entire commissioners to immediately resign from the National Human Rights Commission.
“I never and will never ask or advise the president to protect the rights of gays, lesbians and others. I don’t like it and will never support gay and lesbian rights,” Imam Leigh said in an audio obtained by The Point.
Imam Leigh, who succumbed to the pressure of criticism from Gambians, said that he had no powers to forbid or permit the right of gays and lesbians as only God does.
“I have no powers to forbid or permit the rights of gays, only God can do that. I am apologising to anyone who is offended about this; and I have also forgiven anyone who willingly criticised me on the issue of gay and lesbian rights in the country.”
According to Imam Baba Leigh, his first task as part of his responsibilities at the commission is mediation and reconciliation. His second task, he added, is to tour detention centers across the country.
“Part of my responsibility is to help the commission in terms of advice in the area of religion when they need it.”
“People alleged that I went to President Adama Barrow to advise him to strongly protect the rights of gays, bisexuals, transgender and lesbians. This is not true. This is an act that no Muslim will support and I will never and ever support such act.”
He added that the commission’s mandate was to protect the rights of people and not to legislate any law.
“This commission cannot legalise anything and anything that is to be legalised, forbidden and permitted come from God.”
Gunjur Ward councilor, Momodou Charreh Jibba has written to the Inspector General of Police challenging him to address the mobility constraint that is currently slowing the effective execution of the work of the police at the Gunjur Police Station.
A.M. Yusuf, state counsel, yesterday urged the High Court in Banjul before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh to ask Yankuba Touray, who is charged with murder, to open his defence. This followed the no-case submission made by Defence Counsel Sissoho on behalf of Yankuba.
Gambians from all walks of life have strongly reacted to the recent sacking of Lamin Darboe as executive director of the National Youth Council.
Two people are reported to have died as a result of being electrocuted in Banjul on Monday, The Point has been reliably informed.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on Wednesday established a national respond strategy committee on food security and Covid-19 to curb the effects of the deadly disease in the country. The event was held at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA).
Senegalese ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia, Hon. Bassirou Sene, says that President Macky Sall’s declaration to assist the Diaspora will be strongly fulfilled and therefore urged Senegalese residing in The Gambia to stay calm.
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), under its Human Resources Department yesterday organised a day long orientation seminar for its senior managers across the country.
Fafa Ceesay, a politician and native of Kerr Katim village in the Naimina East District of the Central River Region has predicted that President Adama Barrow will win the 2021 Presidential election, claiming that the entire Naimina East District would be a-no-go-area for Gambian oppositions.
