The Liberia Shia Muslim Community has refuted the labeling of the group as terrorists or trouble makers terming the allegation as untrue and has blamed the Grand Mufti of Liberia, Sheikh Abubakar Sumawuru for categorizing them in such manner when he spoke on Monday, May 2, 2022 during the Eid Al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan held in Monrovia.
The clarification and denunciation of the allegation was made by the leader of the Shia Muslim in Liberia, Sheikh Askaray Kromah when he spoke to a team of newsmen Wednesday, May 11, 2022 in Monrovia, describing the statement as false and misleading information provided by the Grand Mufti who according to Sheikh Kromah should be preaching the doctrine of peace, unity and reconciliation but instead, engaging in vices that have the propensity to cause confusion and commotion in the Muslim community in Liberia
The Muslim cleric said that during his closing sermon which he called Khutubah in Arabic, Sheikh called on the Liberian government not to permit the operations of the Shia in the country in addition to accusing them to be terrorists.
The Shia Leader categorically condemned the allegation, which he referred to as the “uncontrolled statement made by the Grand Mufti of Liberia, Sheik Abubakar Sumawuru because it is an attempt to create division and conflict amongst the Muslims community in particular and the Liberian society in general.
“Furthermore, we are left flabbergasted that he closed the occasion such Eid Al-Fitr(occasion marking the4 end of the holy month of Ramadan) to make unrestrained and dangerous statement instead of preaching peace, unity and reconciliation only for him to called Shia Muslims in Liberia a terrorists organization ” Sheikh Kromah said.
Sheikh Kromah provided education that like all other religious groups in the country and yield the world, Muslims have variations in the form and manner of worshiping but believe and serve the same God, and also have the same prophet(Prophet Mohammed)using the same book (Holy Quran) and the rest, adding that Islam is a religion of peace and the Shia have co-existed peacefully with their brothers and sisters in the faith throughout the country for over 17 years without any history of aggression or hostility.
He indicated that since their existence in the country they have been making every effort to maintain peace, stability and promote development of the their beloved country Liberia, evidenced by the construction and operation of Schools, Mosques, construction of hand pumps, to help provide safe drinking water for various communities in the country to contribute to the development of the country.
“The Shia Muslims in Liberia at no time have been involved in any violence act because as a religious group, we are committed into maintaining the peace we are currently enjoying” Sheikh Kromah said.
He however, called on Liberians including the Liberia Christian Council, National Imam Council, Inter religious Council of Liberia and the general public to join them to vehemently condemn the actions of the Grand Mufti Sumawuru because his action does not represent the view of the Muslims in Liberia.
“Can we learn from the example of our Christian’s brothers and sisters in Liberia that have multiple of different denominations without problem? He asked.
He also used the occasion to called all religious leaders in Liberia to warn the Grand Mufti and whosoever believed in him and the rest of the Muslims in Liberia to promote peace according to their faith and stop verbal attacks and castigating others because it a recipe for religious conflict and Liberia is not prepared for that.
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