Gambia to introduce Sharia law
2000-12-29 12:05
Nairobi, Kenya - Gambia is to introduce Islamic Sharia law from next year, President Yahya Jammeh has told Muslim leaders in the capital Banjul, reports said on Friday.
Religious freedoms would be respected, Jammeh said without giving
any further details. The Gambian constitution provides for the
separation of religion and state.
"I have been tolerant enough in the past, but my government is
preparing to introduce Islamic law next year," Jammeh said in a
speech to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Jammeh who seized power in a military coup in 1994 was born into a Roman Catholic family but converted to Islam.
The small West African state of Gambia has a population of 1.3
million and is predominantly Muslim. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA