By Sainey Darboe, Editor-in-chief:
Supreme Islamic Council President, Muhammed Lamin Touray, has defended the decision to ban strident Islamic preacher Ba-Kawsu Fofana insisting the move ‘was made in the interest of his personal and national security’.
In his testimony before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations commission (TRRC) quarterbacked by Essa Faal, the Gunjur-born and Saudi-trained Imam explained:
“He was banned in the interest of his own security and national security. If he was not stopped he could have been attacked by people he was insulting or the kids of the people he was insulting”.
Imam Touray added that Ba-Kawsu’s irreverent attitude towards the Supreme Islamic Council is a matter embarrassment to his mentors among the clergy.
“The person to whom Ba-Kawsu was entrusted for education still works for Supreme Islamic Council. We educated him till he went to Saudi Arabia. In our cultural milieu, even the son of your teacher is owed respect, more so his brothers. But Ba-Kawsu’s decision to challenge these people is a matter of embarrassment to his mentors”.