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Liberia: Government is Discriminating, Muslim Cleric Says Christians Enjoy More Rights
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The Analyst (Monrovia)
ANALYSIS
16 October 2007
Posted to the web 16 October 2007
Divisiveness in Liberian society has been increasing from time immemorial, especially with the onset and consummation of the just concluded civil war.
The divisiveness finds expression in families, tribal groups, communities, social classes, factional, religious, fraternal or sorority affiliations.
One chord that has been noted to be of bitter disparity in Liberian society is the religious flank, where Islamic critics maintain that the government of Liberia has been buttering the bread for Christians in all spheres of opportunities available in the society.
True or otherwise, it is yet to be seen what the government's reaction will be to a claim made by none other than a moderate and Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Sheik Kafumba Konneh.
The Analyst reporter, J. Edwood Dennis was at the historic Providence Island to hear the sheik address an after Ramadan gathering of over two thousand followers of Islam, and herewith reports.
A statement from a renowned Muslims Cleric says government is responsible for what he claims is the dominant chunk of opportunities and privileges given to Christians of the country.
Speaking Saturday to enthusiastic Muslims, who had completed Ramadan at the historic Providence Island in Monrovia, Sheik Kafumba Conneh said that there are no justifiable reasons to convince people of the Islamic faith about the many opportunities Christians continue to enjoy in the country.
Using the historically significant cradle of the establishment of the Liberian nation-state, which was discovered by Christian settlers from America, Shiek Conneh indicated that he has personally debated with Christians and people of other religious persuasions that there is nowhere in the Liberian Constitution providing more rights for Christians against other faiths in Liberia.
According to the Sheik, who also serves as a Commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the 1847 Constitution that people especially Christians always refer as saying that "Liberia was founded on Christian principles" does not have any such mention. He said he has never spotted any such reference within that Constitution.
Because of these differences one wonders how people, especially successive regimes in Liberia have created more opportunities that make Christians to feel more privilege than Muslims in Liberia.
The Commissioner, who expressed his frustration over the situation regarding his faith, spoke in a serious and activist tone in his white Mohammedan white costume, the Shack also stressed that despite the many opportunities and privileges been provided to Christians in the Liberian society, the faith of Islam was making impact gradually in population than Christians in Liberia.
Besides, he pointed out though he agreed with people who says that Christians are the majority in the government so they are influential in political and other decisions, Muslims will continue to constructive engage people to populate the faith of Islam.
Shiek Kafumba further encouraged all those of Islamic faith to persuade the rights of Muslims in line with the Liberian constitution since it was the only way that any good human being can achieve their goal in a society.
But contrary to Shiek Conneh claim that Liberia's constitution is yet to prove the exclusive rights of Christians in Liberia, Peter Davis of Monrovia said it's unfortunate that the Islamic cleric was by the constitution committee to frame the constitution and at the same time declared Liberia as an independent state in Africa and the world in 1847.
Mr. Davis said those who were involved with the preparation of the Liberian constitution were all Christians and the declaration of independence was done in a church was a clear and sufficient prove for Shiek Kafumba Conneh and all Muslims to be educated to the historic act that Liberia was founded on Christian principles.
Davis said the framing of the 1847constitution and the declaration of independence of Liberia by then constitution committee did not mention the name of Muslim as such he see no reason why the Islamic Cleric shifting blames on the government.
Besides, Davis noted that the Islam isn't growing as claimed by Shiek Kafumba Conneh, on ground when aliens pulled out of the number of Muslims in Liberia there will be strength of Liberia Muslims will be far below 15% through out the country.
But whether his statement is justifiable, there are others who also claim that as a Liberian, the Islamic Cleric is entitled to his opinion as guaranteed in the Liberian Constitution which calls for freedom of speech.
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At the same time, his statement, according to observers, run contrary to that of his Islamic Cleric, the Grand Mufti of the Liberian Muslim Community, Sheik Abubarkar Sumaworo who recognized the value of the Christian faith.
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