PRESIDENT JAMMEH THREATENS

…As Jammeh Vows To Expel Others!!!

By Senior Staff Writer Ansumana Jammeh, Banjul

Banjul: 7/29/08-The president of the republic of the Gambia Yahya Jammeh apparently threatened  Gambia's secular constitution by saying that another type of Islam rather than the one practiced in the Gambia, would be seen and treated as unacceptable.  He added that people who propagate their religion in the country using monetary inducement would be driven out of the Gambia.

    Jammeh made this statement while inaugurating the new Islamic Council Training Institute for Imams and scholars.

     Clearly, this rather astounding remarks by the Gambian head of state came as a bolt from the blue given the secular nature of Gambia's current constitution which calls for religious tolerance and co-existence.

    President Jammeh's remark were implicitly referring to the Shiat,a new religious sect in the country who have their origin back in Iran and other middle Eastern countries.

   He statement was also surprised many Gambians in the sense that the Gambia Government  has a warm relation with a leading Shiat State Iran who has given  the Gambia over the past years a great deal of support.

      It remains to be seen how Iran would react to the comments by Gambian Dictator Jammeh. Potentially his comments  have the capacity to ruin and shatter Gambia's current relationship with its new found friend Iran.

    This reporter sample out the opinions of Jammeh's close ally on the matter who had this to say "having explicitly condemned the West,it is quite interesting  to see who Jammeh's next ally would be if relations with Iran turn frosty” said 53 year old man.

      In his rather interesting speech, the Gambian leader added that he had previously driven away the Ahmaddis,another religious sect that originated from Pakistan, he said,” I told the Ahmaddis that every one has his or her religion, but you cannot come to the Gambia to practice a religion that is different from the one we have".

       Referring to the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, president Jammeh said he had told them that he gave them the authority and mandate to regulate religious matters and yet still nonsense things are happening. He further questioned the essence of the Supreme Islamic Council.