G-lers,

Well, the Independent Newspapre  has quoted some   members of G-L in one of
their articles,  including myself on the Imam Fatty issue. However, they took
a portion of a post i had sent to the L on this issue, but failed to include
enough of the quote to give a better view of the point I was trying to make.

They call me a Jammeh critic, and i will gladly own up to the fact that it is
no secret that i am one of those who have a profound problem with some of the
human rights abuses, modus operandi, and inherent chaos that this
administration has brought to bear on our country and the Gambian people.
However,  my postings regarding Imam Fatty have always been pretty clear,
that as far as the islamic views he preaches are traceable to the Qur'an and
Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW), then i will support his right to do his duty as
an Imam in reminding and enjoining on the people to  live their lives
according to these tenets. but  the fact that he preaches them from the State
house, but never makes any commentary on some of the blatant human rights
abuses that are clear for all to see, gives a connotation that, (as already
pointed out by others on the list) he sanctions this government along with
all that they perpetrate on the people. I as a muslim, a human being and a
Gambian citizen  have a big problem with this, and feel that so should the
good Imam if he is conversant with the teachings of this religion.

My post was a response to one made by  another member of the L , ( and i
paraphrase them here)  that his presence there at the State house  is a
subliminal message such that ordinary Gambians may come to the belief  that
opposing the government would be akin to being disloyal to islam.

My entire response was that ( again i paraphrase since i was too lazy to look
for the post at the G-L interface) i will defend Imam Fatty's right to
deliver the message that the religion enjoins upon us, but that perhaps he is
being used a a tool to manupulate the people  even unbeknownst to himself.
That Islam has been a part of our lives in SeneGambia for so long, that even
if the purpose of his being at the State House  is meant as a tool  to
manipulate the people, that the people know this religion well enough so that
they are not likely to equate disloyalty to any regime with disloyalty to
Islam and it's teachings.

To the Independent, it is encouraging that you are trying to bring to the
people some of the concerns expressed on the Gambia-L,especially in view of
the fact that those on the ground do not always have a means of expressing
themselves for fear of persecution, but please take time to be precise so as
to  always present the whole picture. I failed to express this when I
concurred with your views expressing  some of the immaturity displayed by
some members of this cyber community, but i definitely agreed with my fellow
G-Lers that it is imperative to always present a complete and balanced
picture, and i stated as such in subsequent postings after Dr Abdoulaye
Saine, and others  expressed this sentiment.
Please note that I want it to be abundantly clear to Imam Fatty  on what
grounds i criticise him .
In closing, I must say that i am quite surprised that Gambians such as myself
do not know that Jabou is a female name. You referred to me  as "he" in your
article.

NOTE: Does anyone have the direct email address of the Independent newspaper?

Jabou Joh

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------