Joe, et al.
The imam is blameless in this case as he specifically stated that his mind and body suffered a lot during this five months he was held incommunicado. As you stated, his congregation and family abandoned him and self preservation is a natural tendency and we cannot be blamed for it. The blameworthy are the imams and the staff present during this ordeal as if nothing has happened, from Dr. Samba to Cherno and the congregation he led.
Thanks,
Kejau
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 10:54:50 -0700
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] [>-<] A “pardon” for Imam Baba Leigh is preposterous nonsense!
To: [log in to unmask]
Fatou, the only thing wrong here and the only criminal and saboteur in this situation is Yahya Jammeh and his bandits... It would be irresponsible and inhumane to blame the imam for doing whatever to regain his freedom because he was after all powerless in the hands of the dictator...
He spent five months behind bars and the only thing we could do about it was to scratch our faces and cry foul and contribute meager resources (only a few did that too)... He could have disappeared for good and killed and it will take us eternity to sit down and call for his release and for justice... I don't know about anyone else but I felt powerless, sleepless and angry to wake up every day knowing imam Leigh was behind bars and could be killed... In the end I was guilty living my life along while he continues to be behind bars...
So the least we can do right now is to stop our righteousness in blaming the Imam and put our act together to rid the dictator who will come after the next citizen - one of us may be...how do we ever blame someone under duress...??? OMG, I would do anything to get Deyda Hydara, Chief Manneh and many other Gambians back... The imam's release only gives him another opportunity just like anyone of us who decides to run away to fight another day... As Jawara said 'When a ram retreats from his fight, he did not run away but was getting more power to fight harder"
We got some work and soul searching to do!!!
Demba
On Wed, May 15, 2013 at 9:22 AM, Modou Mboge <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
"And so, the lie and rottenness of our affairs is not to Yaya alone. The Imam has learn his lesson and will forever hold his peace and will shut his mouth and mind his business from here on out. His relatives and friends will do the same, while others in similar situations (plenty to be named) are still languishing in jails across the country. Is the Imam going to stand up and fight for those that are still in the inside, just as the rest of the world did for him? Based on this scheme and the precedence, I will say no. And so, the cycle continues, as we heap one lie to cover another lie. Ours is, "Askanu Saaku Nyaan" and it is sickening. We all know what's up, but we are masters of deception with willful disregard and will invoke the name of God, Allah, Jehovah,etc. as represent evil. We need to stop creating excuses for it will yield us nothing but a continuation of the hell our people live in." [Joe Sambou]
Daagaa Kaaani lah Joe, keep it up. Our families and so-called friends are the problem. Mboge
On Wed, May 15, 2013 at 11:56 AM, Joe Joe <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Lamin, Nour Nour, Nuki! We all knew this day will come to pass. Again, a people deserve the leaders they get. Imam Leigh was abducted, his relatives, friends, and rights groups came out to demand, plead, and ask for mercy from the Mufti. Never forget that in the religious hierarchy in the Gambia for Muslims, Yaya is the highest authority, just like a Bishop is to priests. A Mufti is no match for an Imam. Continuing, the rights groups demanded an unconditional release of the Imam and the Gambian Haters in the WEST demanded for his release and also organized to raise funds for the Imam's Legal Representation. However, the family says no, just give us the money and please do not make waves because that will infuriate the Mufti and our Imam will suffer more. Then the suspense, as the Haters do not know whether to sit or stand. Suddenly, the opportunity to die for arose which was anticipated by many interest groups - Imams, SICK, Yai & Bai Compins, the Fired Groups, those that want to crash the party, and the Gate Keepers, etc. The frenzy to lead the representation was in full throttle and we woke up to the Town Crier's (DO) call that the fix is in. For a pardon to be successful you need the criminal who committed the crime, the schemers, and a willing victim. I know some will argue that the victim does not have a choice, for it is either he accepts the situation or go back in. Yes, if the victim is someone who fears man and his power, then that victim can run with the opportunity. However, if the victim is a man of Allah and fears none other than Allah, then the victim must not allow to be pawned. If he accepts the lie and play along, then he too is part of the scheme no matter how much we sympathize with his situation. Accepting to be pardoned means the Imam accepted that he committed the crime that the criminal accused him of privately and the Imam's handlers also believe that the Imam did something wrong and needs to ask for forgiveness. Yes, we are talking about "Pillars of a Society" and that means we are all GAME. And so, the lie and rottenness of our affairs is not to Yaya alone. The Imam has learn his lesson and will forever hold his peace and will shut his mouth and mind his business from here on out. His relatives and friends will do the same, while others in similar situations (plenty to be named) are still languishing in jails across the country. Is the Imam going to stand up and fight for those that are still in the inside, just as the rest of the world did for him? Based on this scheme and the precedence, I will say no. And so, the cycle continues, as we heap one lie to cover another lie. Ours is, "Askanu Saaku Nyaan" and it is sickening. We all know what's up, but we are masters of deception with willful disregard and will invoke the name of God, Allah, Jehovah,etc. as represent evil. We need to stop creating excuses for it will yield us nothing but a continuation of the hell our people live in. When the Imam was in, his congregation sat down and so when the congregation is in, the Imam will not make a loud call. The same set-up is with the politicians, lawyers, etc. If Imam Leigh accepts this deal and we gloss over it, we are also part of the problem. Other Imam's died for Allah and the truth, so, what is different with our brother?
I know some will say here he goes again sitting on his keyboard thousands of miles lecturing to Imam Leigh. Yes, you can say that, but you still are not facing the truth. Besides, Imam Leigh is just as human as my humble self here and I know the brother for almost half a century. Where some of you see an Imam today, I also see a neighbor, brother, Ndongo, Hajan kat, football player, kasori FC supporter, Vous guy, etc. So, I have a vested interest in covering for him. However, that is not why am here. The truth will always set us free. This is no time for Imam Leigh, his friends and relatives to disappear but to stand up to defend the rights of others who are still in or about to go in. Now, if we go with the Gambian logic that "Pour Lan Imam Di Waxh Nyu Diko Teg Mom Rek." Duff Rek! Well, that is what many of the politicians also do. What chance does the regular Joe, Samba, or Demba have with no following? Our mindset is a great asset to Yaya and so we can continue to pretend that we have higher thinking over Yaya, but the JOKE is on US. At this rate, we have a destiny with Yaya for his natural life.
Joe
Date: Mon, 13 May 2013 23:26:01 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [>-<] A “pardon” for Imam Baba Leigh is preposterous nonsense!
To: [log in to unmask]
A “pardon” for Imam Baba Leigh is preposterous nonsense!
When news of Imam Baba Leigh’s (Imam Leigh) release exploded in Gambian communities at home and abroad, it was greeted with unanimous and justified relief. For watchers of Gambian public space, curiosity nevertheless centred on how the Imam Leigh imbroglio would be explained by his abductor, i.e. the state of The Gambia. The wait wasn't long, and true to form, the state handling of the affair was astounding in its capriciousness. Or maybe not so astounding as ours is now a country where the absolutely ridiculous is the new normal!
As if nothing was ever amiss, Imam Leigh was paraded before the nation in a manner that exposed his handlers in extraordinary fashion, and our public space as sorry through and through. A citizen was abducted from the sanctuary of his home, and the state made no effort whatsoever to regularize that public criminality by either informing him of his offences, or charging him with a crime against a law, or laws, of The Gambia. After more than five months, he was released from unlawful state detention and told on national television that he was a loudmouth and must apologise to our benevolent father of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Doctor Yahya A J J Jammeh (the Professor). And this by custodians of the Gambian moral conscience! By any yardstick, the Imam Leigh saga goes to the very heart of our ability to meaningfully survive as a polity.
In trademark fashion, we awoke to the Daily Observer’s publication of a press release purporting to grant Imam Leigh a presidential pardon. “The Imam of Kanifing Estate Baba Leigh has been released, after a pardon by President Jammeh. The Imam was accompanied to State House by the Imam Ratib of Banjul, Alhaji Cherno Alieu Mass Kan and members of the Supreme Islamic Council. He was received there by the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Njogu Bah”.
To understand what must occur before a pardon could be legitimately granted, we must examine the fundamental and dis positive law as enunciated at section 82 of The 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia:
(1) The President may, after consulting the Committee established by subsection (2) -
---(a) grant to any person convicted of any offence a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions;
---(b) grant to any person a respite, either indefinite or for a specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that person for any offence;
---(c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment imposed on any person for any offence;
---(d) remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on any person for such an offence or any penalty otherwise due to the State on account of any offence
(2) There shall be a Committee on the exercise of the prerogative of mercy consisting of the Attorney General and three other persons appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.
Clearly, the legal framework of a pardon was not triggered in the case of Imam Leigh. He was abducted, not arrested. In addition, he was neither informed of, nor charged with any offence against any law of The Gambia. Needless to say, and more crucially, Imam Leigh was never convicted and sentenced for a criminal offence by a competently constituted Court. What he encountered was state criminality of the highest order!
As far as the supreme law of the Gambia is concerned, a pardon generally comes after a conviction. On the evidence, Imam Leigh was abducted and disappeared for over five months. He was never charged with any offence, and no prosecutions were commenced against him, and there was no concluded judicial proceeding resulting in a conviction. In the circumstances, there could not be a presidential pardon.
I should also point out that serious criminal offences were committed by the State against the person of Imam Leigh. As such, anyone who propounds the nonsense that we should be grateful to the Professor for releasing Imam Leigh betrays cluelessness of the highest order. Merely thinking such nonsense is offensive to legality and common sense! There was no reason for the man to be subjected to treatment so completely outside the permission of our laws, the very fact of his abduction and incarceration entitles him to millions in compensation from The Gambia Government and its agents.
Lamin J Darbo
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