By G. Naway Gumeh, gumehnaway@gmail.com/ +231775032080
Relations between the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government and the Muslim Council of Liberia started off on a rather cozy note after President George Weah took office on January 22, 2019.
The government has even funded the pilgrimage to Mecca of over 300 pilgrims this year.
But now, the Chairman of National Imam Council of Liberia Ali Krayee is not happy with treatment from some authorities at the Excutive Mansion.
He is demanding apology from CDC-government for President Weah’s for alleged discriminatory and religious intolerant posture against Liberian Muslims.
Imam Krayee said seconds after a Muslim clergyman was called to offer benediction at the just ended 172nd Independence Day anniversary of Liberia, President Weah walked out on the order of his protocol officers.
“Islam as a religion in Liberia was insulted when the protocol announced that the President and his guests had to walk out before the chief imam gave the benediction.”
The chief Imam of Liberia described the act as an affront to Islam and hatred against Liberian Muslims and wondered why the Liberian leader would behave in such manner.
Imam Krayee claimed that the government is always marginalizing Muslims; referencing President Weah’s inauguration in 2018 and the nation’s 171st Independence Day as two other instances where Muslims were left out while Christian clerics performed the invocation and benediction at both occasions.
He also claimed that at that time, President Weah remained seated until the Christian clergyman gave the benediction and wondered why this time, the Liberian leader would walked out when Muslim cleric was asked to pray at the end of the just ended independence day program.
The Muslim Clergyman threatened that if government fails to issue a clear statement of apology against the behavior of President Weah, Muslims will abstain from every activity of the CDC-government.
“If you don’t issue an immediate and clear apology to the Muslim community in this country, count us out of all your ceremonies and programs”.
He is also calling for reform in the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia by including the National Imam Council, Association of Evangelicals of Liberia and the National Christian council as a way of ensuring religious, geographical and ethnic balance.
Imam Krayee argued that the Inter-Religious Council does not currently represent crossed section of religious people and threatened that if the reform is not done, the National Imam Council will align with other religious institutions to establish another Inter-Religious body in Liberia.
He was speaking in Caldwell-Montserrado County on Sunday, August 11, 2019 during the observance of EID Mubarak day by scores of Muslims in the area.