PHOTO: Chief Imam Ali Krayee
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkollie92@gmail.com
Muslims in Liberia are stepping up their campaign to demand that a law be passed declaring a national Islamic holiday, as they push for its passage 12 months from now—by 2022.
Speaking Sunday at the Ramadan Dinner organized by Monrovia City government, Liberia Chief Imam of Liberia Ali Krayee said, Muslims will be granted a national holiday, come the next Ramadan in 2022.
Quoting the late prominent black American Muslim leader, Malcom X, Imam Krayee said, “there will be freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.”
Muslims in Liberia have over the years advocated for a Muslim holiday with several complained and threats from the Muslim Community one of such group is the Movement for Islamic Holidays in Liberia have being calling on the Legislature to pass into law two major Islamic festivals – Eid al-Fitr, known as Ramadan Day and Eid al-Adha also called, Abraham Day as national holidays.
The group’s call for the passage of a law declaring two days as national holidays is consistent with Article 14 of the Liberian Constitution, which states that all persons are entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
There is no state religion and Liberia is a secular state under the country’s 1986 constitution.
According to Imam Krayee, Muslims in Liberia will not continue to ask or beg for their rights in the Country, noting that now is the time for Muslim to get their freedom.
‘’What will it take President Weah to by proclamation like Samuel Doe in 1989 declared a holiday in Liberia, what will it cost him, will the Legislature hold him. The diplomacy in the country is too much. The President can proclaim holiday for Muslims in Liberia if he wants to, the Legislature can declare or legislate holiday if they want to. But I just want you to right assure that comes next Ramadan, Muslims will have holiday in this country,” Liberia’s chief Imam said.
Imam Krayee noted that freedom all around the world is expensive as such individuals or group should not expect anyone to give freedom to them on silver platter, but they should take their freedom if they are men enough.
He observed that the continuous refusal to grant the Islamic community national holidays in the country is a clear violation of their fundamental rights.
The Chief Imam of Liberia however, assured Muslim in Liberia that come the next Ramadan, Muslim, they will have a holiday in Liberia by every means possible and available to them.
“Come next year, there will be freedom for everybody or freedom for no body,’’ he concluded.
In remarks, the Grand Mufti of Liberia, Abubakar Sumaworo urged government to quickly response to Muslim quest by granting them a holiday at the end of Ramadan.
Sumaworo urged government not to allow the Muslim community especially young Muslims in Liberia expose their anger in the quest or struggle for a holiday.
The Grand Mufti further called on Mayor Jefferson Koijee to use his closeness with President Weah to ensure that the holiday is granted Muslims in Liberia.
Speaking Sunday night during a Ramadan Dinner organized by the City Government, Abubakar Sumaworo also use the occasion to call on Muslims in the country to pray for the current situation in Palestine.
For his part, Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee called for unity and togetherness among Librarians and put away all political and religious differences.
Mayor Koijee noted that no one person or group should claim ownership saying that the country belong to every Liberians.