Liberia: Chief Imam Applauds Government’s Efforts to End Impunity

Sheikh Ali Krayee, Chief Imam of the Republic of Liberia, has commended the government for signing a resolution to establish the War and Economics Crimes Court (WECC).

Krayee said those who committed atrocities during the civil war would now be held accountable as a step toward discouraging impunity.

“We want to appreciate the government of President Joseph Boakai, the House of Representatives, and the Liberian Senate for passing the resolution on the establishment of war and economic crimes court,” he said at the close of the Ramadan prayer on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

“What we saw in Foya with people being beaten to death; what we witnessed in Nimba County should just serve as enough warning to us that if people will continue to go with impunity, if people will kill people and nothing will come out of it, that is why we think that the establishment of war and economic crimes courts is something all of us will embrace. It will send a message that if you take people’s lives you will have to pay for it.”

According to Islam, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that the first verses of the Quran-Islam holy book were discovered by the deceased Prophet Muhammad. 

Krayee made these remarks at the close of the Eid al-Fitr (End of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Festival of Breaking Fast) held at the Alhaji Souleymane Mosque on King Sao Bosso Street, Monrovia. He also thanked President Joseph Boakai for setting up the Asset Recovery Taskforce to retrieve the government properties that had been converted to personal use. 

Recently, Muslims are required to fast, be kind, and patient, and stay away from sins.  

In Liberia, 12 percent of the nation’s population are Muslims, according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census.  

Every year at the close of the Ramada prayers, the Chief Imam and other Islamic leaders call on the government to ensure that Islamic holidays like Ramadan are celebrated. 

Ramadan and Abraham Day, which are Islamic holidays, are not celebrated by the state. 

During these days, schools and public facilities are allowed to remain open, unlike Christmas and Easter, when schools and public centers are closed.

“Once again we are ending Ramadan with a heavy heart,” Krayee said. “It is our responsibility to remind the system. That system has worked against human genuine unity in this country for ages.”

So far, only the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) suspended classes in celebration of this year’s Ramadan to allow the Muslim staff and students to celebrate Ramadan with no detrimental effects on their academic activities. Even the University of Liberia, the country’s premier, did not suspend classes.

"In recognition of the significance of the celebration of the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, all mid-term exams scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, 2024, have been postponed to Thursday, April 11, 2024, " the school said in a Memo. 

“This year some of our children are forced to go to school simply because the Republic of  Liberia still refuses to recognize that Muslims are first-class citizens of this country, Krayee continued.

He called on President Joseph Boakai to work with the legislature to pass a law creating an Islamic holiday in Liberia.

“We have endured this injustice for more than 176 years. This country can be united and make progress without noise if only we recognize the human rights and citizen's rights of everyone who is a Liberian so we pray that the government will see the need to do what is right.”

The call for an Islamic holiday has long been flagged by leaders of the Muslim community, and some lawmakers. 

In 2020, the Movement for Islamic Holidays in Liberia, an Advocacy group called on the Legislature to pass into law two major Islamic festivals – Eid al-Fitr, known as Ramadan Day, and Eid al-Adha also called Abraham Day as national holidays.

Also, in 2021, Edwin Snowe, Bomi County Senator submitted a Bill before his colleagues to make Easter Monday a Public Holiday, Eid al-Adha (Abraham’s Day) a Public Holiday; and Eid al-Fitr (End of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Festival of Breaking Fast).

 Before submitting his bills, he wrote on his Facebook page, “This week, I will be introducing three landmark legislation on the floor of the Liberian Senate. I hereby call on my colleagues in the legislature as well as the general public to give these legislations their fullest support for the passage of an Act Making Easter Monday a Public Holiday; An Act Making Eid al-Adha (Abraham’s Day) a Public Holiday; and An Act Making Eid al-Fitr (End of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Festival of Breaking Fast) a Public Holiday.

Snowe reportedly received threats from some members of the Christian community, with some accusing him of doing it for political interest. But the senator however denied the accusation, stating he represents the majority of the country’s population.