Jabou,

I share your concerns that this could be a plot but i have a problem with
the whole issue. Watching the programme i could not help to ask ,why Imam of
all
people can say one thing on camera and another off camera. If Imam had
supported FGM and stick to it on and off camera it would have been a
different issue today but the fact that he gave two different version on the
same issue,makes the whole issue somehow complicated. The prophets and
religious leaders did make very unpopular decisions
and they stick to it. I  believe that Imams should not have a private and
public opinion on
the same issue ,but one opinion. This is what makes it very difficult to
defend him against this  plot this media plot. I have high respect for the
Imam but I have difficulties reconciling with
this act.

Secondly this has also gone to show  the fact that even though this girl was
wearing a veil does not necessarily mean that she is a believer. I bet
that,most likely,if i had gone
there wearing jeans it would have been a different  matter. So,
the lesson is that the fact that one calls her/himself a Muslim or wears a
veil does not necessarily mean that she/he is a Muslim or shall I say a
devoted Muslim.

Thirdly there is a larger Somali community here in Norway and this girl
coming from Somalia,should have more easy access to her people,out of the
four people in this hidden video tape,only one of them is a Somalian and the
video tape on FMG shown in the programme was from Somali. This again
shows the naivety of our people.

Lastly, the Imam should not have even gone to the TV, he could have demand
to see the programme before taking part in the debate that followed after.
I was so embarrassed, shocked and
devastated to see our Liberal Imam reduced to nothing. This is not an issue
that just affect the Imam but the whole
Gambian community here in Norway.

I deeply sympathised with Imam and i hope this will be a lesson not only to
them but for all of us.

The Struggle Continues!!
Ndey Jobarteh
----- Original Message -----
From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 1:37 AM
Subject: Re: Press release


> Assalaamu Alaikum Imam Saidy,
>
> It is very clear that you were a victim of a very sinister and devious
plot.
> From your account here, it is clear that there were elements who used this
> FGM debate to further their own agenda, but the most shameful of it all is
> the Somali sister who came under the guise of being a good muslim, when
her
> purpose was as a tool for those who hatched this shameful plot. This is a
> good example to remind us that WE must be the ones to solve our own
problems
> lest others use the situation  to further their own agenda.May Allah (SWT)
> vindicate you, and may he reward you for not  succumbing to the forces who
> want to dilute and destroy islam. Allah has promised us that this will
never
> happen, and the fact that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the
World
> is no acident.Ameen.
>
> Jabou Joh
>
> In a message dated 10/11/00 9:30:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << Thank you for space.
>
>  Ebraima Saidy
>  Imam
>   >>
>
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