Two Muslim clerics, Imam Ali Krayee, Chairman of the National Imam Council of Liberia; and Shiekh Abubarkar Sumaworo, Grand Mufti of Liberia, have separately issued threat, indicating that should the Government of Liberia fail to grant a public holiday unto Muslims in Liberia, they would resort to violence to achieve same.
Imam Kraye has sounded a warning to the Government of Liberia (GoL), especially President George Weah that if his leadership fails or refuses to grant Muslims in the country a public holiday, at the end of their “holy month of Ramadan”, they would take several steps to ensure a Muslims Holiday is granted.
Imam Krayee said the Muslim Community in Liberia can no longer hold back where according to him injustice is on the increase by those in authority, particularly for their failure to grant Muslims a national holiday.
The Muslim cleric recalled that slain President Samuel K. Doe once declared a national holiday for the Liberia national football team the Lone Star when the team defeated Ghana national team the Black Star.
Imam Krayee, who made these assertions when he spoke during an End-of-Ramadan dinner organized by the City Government of the City of Monrovia, the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), over the weekend, said President Weah needs no legislation to declare a Muslim Holiday.
Without disclosing by what means, Imam Krayee declared that during the next Ramadan in Liberia, Muslims in the country will have a holiday. However, he was quick to point out that no one should ask him how Muslims in Liberia would obtain such public holiday.
Howbeit, Imam Krayee used the occasion to appreciate the Mayor of Monrovia, Jefferson Koijee, for hosting an End-of-Ramadan dinner for Muslims in the country.
He then sought Mayor Koijee’s intervention, calling on the youthful Mayor to prevail on President Weah to grant a public holiday unto Muslims in Liberia.
He said with President Weah taking such step to break what he calls taboo in the history of Liberia by declaring a Muslim Holiday, God will do great things for the Liberia president.
Also speaking was the Grand Mufti of Liberia Imam Abubakar Sumaworo, who urged President Weah to take immediate action to address the cry of Muslims for a public holiday.
He said the young generation of the Muslim religion has different attitudes in addressing issues, noting that their anger cannot be controlled now.
Imam Sumaworo further said it is against that backdrop that they as leaders of the Muslim faith have the responsibility to advice the leadership of the country not to give chance to the new generation of Muslims to expose their anger, noting that if they do, what government does not like would happen.
He said in order for the Government to have peace, the leadership needs to respond positively to their request.
For his part, Mayor Koijee assured the Muslim Community in Liberia that President Weah will do all within his power to grant Muslims in the country a public holiday before his tenure expires.
According to Mayor Koijee, the issue of religious tolerance is a key component to the peace and democracy of the country.
He called on Liberians to use a peaceful path in solving issues that have the propensity to undermine the peace and stability of the country.
Mayor Koijee admitted that there will be attempts by those he described as detractors to undermine government’s efforts in uniting the country, but noted that with the help of religious leaders, the country will continue on its peaceful path under the leadership of President Weah.
Washington Watson writes
