Islam Joins Nation's Fight Against AIDS

http://allafrica.com/stories/200307140536.html

The Independent (Banjul)
NEWS
July 14, 2003
Posted to the web July 14, 2003

By Sb Camara
Banjul

The Supreme Islamic Council has revealed that the country's legion of
Muslim scholars under the banner of the SIC was joining the national fight
against the HIV and AIDS pandemic but would make it clear that the religion
frowns on the distribution of condoms on the basis that it undoubtedly
encourages promiscuity and prostitution in society.

Banding Drammeh who visited the offices of The Independent last week
pointed out that it is a hard and fast rule that the Muslim scriptures as
contained in the Quran are unequivocally opposed to the rampant
distribution of condoms particularly to the young and most sexually active
section of the population.

"Islam does not accept that but at the same time we have a role to play
which is to sensitise people about the HIV pandemic as it stands today" he
stated, adding that since the disease presents a menace to the human race
it behoves all Muslims to fight to preserve the human race.

According to him Islam as a religion unreservedly supports the idea of
abstinence and faithfulness to a partner because these are in conformity
with the teachings of the religion.

"So therefore we will join the crusade against this deadly disease and we
will do this in our preaching and summons but the distribution of condoms
to both married and unmarried people, in a manner that infects the society
with immorality, prostitution and promiscuity is something that we oppose"
he outlined.

Mr. Drammeh said the crucial fight against HIV should involve people from
all walks of life and as such, his council had made its position clear over
it. He said the SIC would sensitise, imams, religious leaders and Islamic
scholars and prepare them to take up the fight in this protracted crusade
against the disease. He said one of the concerns of the SIC as far as the
disease is concerned is being directed at attitudinal change, when people
will be encouraged to act according to natural laws.

Comparing the infection rate in the Gambia to other countries he said
although presently it is being considered low, the reality of AIDS in those
countries should ring alarm bells to people living in The Gambia.

He said they will soon embark on a nationwide campaign targeting imams,
Islamic scholars and other religious leaders to disseminate the facts about
AIDS and how it can be contained using Islamic tendencies that are less
complicated and of more impact.




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