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The Gambia - Religion

The constitution provides every person the right to practice any religion, as long as doing so does not impinge on the rights of others or on the national interest. The constitution prohibits religious discrimination, the establishment of a state religion, and religiously-based political parties. President Yahya Jammeh declared the country an Islamic state on 10 December 2015, stating the lives of Christians would not be affected. Opposition parties condemned the declaration of an Islamic state.

The Gambia is a predominantly Islamic country. Muslims constitute more than 90% of the population. Christians of different denominations account for most of the remainder. Gambians officially observe the holidays of both religions and practice religious tolerance. There are conservative standards of dress and behavior in The Gambia.

The U.S. government estimates the total population at 1.9 million (July 2015 estimate). According to religious leaders, an estimated 90 percent of the population is Muslim, most of whom are Sunni. Other Islamic groups include Malikite, Qadiriyah, and Sufism/Tijaniyah. There are also small numbers of Ahmadi and Ndigal Muslims. The Christian community, situated mostly in the west and south of the country, is 9 percent of the population (U.S. government estimate). It is predominantly Roman Catholic, but there are also several Protestant groups including Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and various evangelical denominations. Approximately 1 percent of the population practices indigenous animist religious beliefs, although many Muslims and Christians maintain some traditional practices. Other groups include Bahais, a small community of Hindus among South Asian immigrants and business persons, and a small community of Eckankar members.

The constitution states that “every person shall have the freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice,” as long as doing so does not impinge on the rights of others or on the national interest. The constitution prohibits religious discrimination, the establishment of a state religion, and religiously-based political parties. President Yahya Jammeh declared the country an Islamic state, with sharia prevailing.

The constitution establishes qadi courts, with Muslim judges trained in the Islamic legal tradition. The qadi courts are located in each of the country’s seven regions and apply sharia law. Their jurisdiction applies only to marriage, divorce, custody over children, and inheritance questions for Muslims. Sharia also applies to interfaith couples where there is one Muslim spouse. Non-qadi district tribunals, which deal with issues under customary and traditional law, apply sharia, if relevant, when presiding over cases involving Muslims. A five-member qadi panel has purview over appeals regarding decisions of the qadi courts and non-qadi district tribunals relating to sharia. Muslims also have access to civil courts. Non-Muslims are not subject to qadi courts.

The government arrested and detained three imams without trial or explanation in 2015; all three imams were in custody at the end of the year. Police arrested a blogger for posting a caricature of the Prophet Muhammed with a little girl sitting on his lap. The accused – who said police forced his confession – was released on bail, and his case was subsequently dismissed.

The Supreme Islamic Council (SIC), closely allied with the government, declared the Ahmadiyya Muslim community a “non-Muslim Community” and banned the burial of Ahmadi Muslims in Muslim cemeteries. Ahmadis were denied access to state media to publicize their religious activities.

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) arrested and detained three imams without charge or trial. Sheikh Omar Colley, Imam of Jabang, was arrested on 15 October 2015; Alhagie Ousman Sawaneh, Imam of Kanifing South, was arrested on October 18; and Cherno Gassama, Imam of Dasilami Mosque in the Lower Fulladu West District, Central River Region was arrested on November 2. Authorities provided no explanation for their arrests and detention. Residents of the region stated the imams were members of a new rice farmers association that was not supportive of the ruling party. The Muslim clerics were still in detention at the end of the year. The constitution states that no accused should be held without charge in excess of 72 hours.

Police arrested Alagie Mam Sey on May 11 for posting a caricature of the Prophet Muhammed on social media with a little girl sitting on his lap. He was arraigned before the Brikama Magistrate Court on August 4, and charged with “uttering words with intent to hurt religious feeling.” The prosecution reported that the accused admitted guilt. His lawyer said Mam Sey had been threatened with death and requested his client be released on bail on the grounds he might be mentally unstable and needed to undergo a medical examination. The judge granted bail in the amount of 10,000 dalasi ($250). The court dismissed the case in December 2015.

In Tallinding village, Sunni Muslims banned Ahmadi Muslims from burying their dead at Muslim cemeteries and demanded the excavation of an Ahmadi body. The Ahmadiyya leadership issued a statement reacting to the SIC’s statement and said the issue had the potential to create civil strife. The Interfaith Group for Dialogue and Peace, composed of representatives from the Muslim, Christian, and Bahai communities, met regularly to discuss matters of mutual concern, such as religious freedom and the need for peaceful coexistence.

The Statement by President Yahya Jammeh on the occasion of the Gambia’s 49th Independence anniversary 18th February 2014: "My Government continues its programme of socio economic development with Religion and our religious value system as the cornerstone for national psychological emancipation and liberation from the shackles of neo-colonialism in all its shapes and colours. In my Government’s drive to provide education for all Gambians, religious Education will be further buttressed and strengthened from primary, secondary and to tertiary Education. It is only when religion and faith in ALLAH only is established in the Heart of Every Gambian, that we can become truly Independent and dignified people. We cannot be called dignified and independent when instead of putting our destiny in the MIGHT OF THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH’s custody, we look up satanic powers that be; whose only objective for humanity is to glorify all that is Evil and Ungodly. These so-called world powers of today’s world comprising racist, Homosexual, Devil-and-material- worshipping perverts bent on the continuous sucking of African blood and resources to perpetuate decadence, abject poverty, violence and mayhem in Africa, cannot be listened to by ALLAH-worshipping people like us more sobe taken for Masters. I am sure that even Iblis or Satan believes that he is less evil than these powers who have set one set of standards for themselves, and another for the rest of mankind especially Africans."