By Mohamed Juma Jalloh
An organization called Forum of Islamic Organizations for Peaceful Co-existence has been launched at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown by key Islamic stakeholders and representatives from the government of Sierra Leone.
Giving an overview of the organization, the President, Justice Abubakarr King, said the organization will serve as an umbrella body for all Muslims irrespective of the sectarian belief one might hold.
The Judge noted, among other things, that the organization will serve as a platform for the arbitration and mediation of disputes among Muslims by using it as a model to take some issues out of court.
In launching the organization, Hon Bendu Dassama, the Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, said she is happy for such an initiative because it is geared towards peace building within the Islamic community.
Mrs. Dassama disclosed that the Ministry has a religious secretariat to address religious issues and further called on the three main sects to respect government policies and programmes on religious issues.
“The watch word must be respect if Muslims should continue to live in peace and harmony,” the Minister earmarked.
Alimamy Suluku, the Minister of Internal Affairs, said the Ministry is the hub for the progress and development of the state because it deals with the security.
He said, as a government, they are ready to give the organization full support because it is geared towards tolerance among Muslims, while also highlighting that the creation of the Commission for Peace and National Cohesion will help in consolidating peace among different sectors of the Sierra Leonean society.
The Minister stated that when the state fails to uphold the rule of law there will be chaos and anarchy
Hon Suluku maintained that religious war is far-fetched in Sierra Leone because there is the rule of law, whiles further appealing to the sects to operate within the confines of the law as, according to him, any group that operates outside the law will face the full penalty of the law.