Banjul, 20 April, 2024 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Christians in The Gambia who represent a tiny percentage of the country’s population are experiencing “subtle” persecution, a Catholic Priest ministering in the West African country has said.
The Director of the Pastoral Centre of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul in The Gambia, Fr. Peter Stephen Lopez, has observed the emergence of Imams, who he says are bent on creating a rift between Christians and Muslims in the country that is vastly Muslim.
In an interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Lopez said, “The Gambia has enjoyed religious freedom until now. Christians have always lived in great friendship with their Muslim brothers and sisters. We have had intermarriages between Christians and Muslims and attended each others’ events in mosques and churches. But these days, we hear people talking about how they fail to get jobs just because they bear Christian names.”
“A certain crop of Imams coming from the Arab countries, and who don't know the history of religious tolerance in The Gambia are bringing with them extremist teachings. They speak openly on radio, cautioning Muslims against mingling with Christians. They warn Muslims against stepping in Christian houses, eating food prepared by Christians or attending Church events,” he added during the Tuesday, April 16 interview.
Fr. Lopez expressed fear that if not nipped in the bud, the emerging religious extremism in The Gambia could “wipe away” Christianity in Africa’s tiniest country.