PHOTO: Officials of the National Muslim Council
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The National Muslim Council of Liberia has rejected the establishment of the National Hajj Committee by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to oversee the pilgrimage of Muslim to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
On Monday, May 30, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the establishment of the hajj committee and announcing over 6,000 United States dollars for each pilgrim.
Addressing a press conference, the council through Sheik Akibu Sheriff, Secretary of the National Hajj and Umrah Committee, suggested that Internal Affairs Minister, Varney Sirleaf to immediately stop usurping the function of the council.
There is no reaction yet from the Internal Affairs Minister.
The National Muslim Council of Liberia pointed out that recent pronouncement by Minister Varney Sirleaf announcing the formation of a Hajj committee without the involvement of the National Muslim Council is worrisome and counterproductive.
“As the National Hajj and Umrah Committee of the National Muslim Council of Liberia,” Sheik Sheriff went on, “they have already begun preparation of Hajj activities.”
Sheik Sheriff argued that Chapter 111 ,Article 14 of the Liberian Constitution clearly separate the state and religion.
According to him, the council’s National Hajj and Umrah Committee is a specialized standing comminute established under the Chapter VIII, Article 39.18 of the constitution of the National Muslim Council of Liberia
Sheik Sheriff is therefore appealing to President George Weah to intervene now in order to avoid a legal battle between the National Muslim Council of Liberia and the Liberian government.
The press statement signed by the committee’s Chairman, Sheik Abdulah Kromah made it clear that the National Muslim Council of Liberia, established since 1974, is an umbrella organization of the Islamist community responsible to steer the affairs the affairs of Muslims ,protect their interest and promote the teachings their rights within the spirit of Islamist teaching for the peace and security in the country.
“It is based on this background that the Liberia’s National Hajj and Umrah Committee has long been involved in activities in preparing Muslims for the pilgrimage annually.”