Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia) – Imam Abdul Kareem Kuyateh has been invited to the Police Headquarters in Banjul today at 12 p.m. following controversial remarks he made against the Magal of Touba and Islamic brotherhoods during a recent Friday sermon.
In his sermon, the Imam accused the Mouride community and other brotherhoods of engaging in shirk (polytheism) and went as far as discrediting their founders, practices, and religious gatherings.
His comments provoked widespread condemnation both in The Gambia and Senegal, particularly among followers of the Mouridiyya.
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs swiftly distanced the state from the remarks, describing them as “unacceptable and intolerable.”
In a statement, the ministry confirmed that Imam Abdul Kareem had acknowledged his mistake, repented, and issued a public apology to the Mouride community in The Gambia and abroad.
“The inappropriate remarks made during the sermon do not reflect the values of religious tolerance and respect that The Gambia upholds,” the ministry stated, while extending an official apology to the Mourides.
The controversy has also drawn in the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC), which issued its own statement expressing regret over the sermon. The Council said the Imam’s words had “caused pain and misunderstanding” within the Mourid community and confirmed that Abdul Kareem had recognized his error and offered a sincere apology to Muslims at large.
Observers suggest that Imam Abdul Kareem’s campaign is linked to a broader ideological struggle against Islamic brotherhoods in Senegal and The Gambia.
His mentor, Senegalese preacher Oustass Omar Sall, was himself imprisoned in Senegal for delivering insulting sermons and later forced to retract his remarks. Despite reportedly advising his disciple not to apologize, Abdul Kareem ultimately did so under mounting pressure.
The incident highlights simmering tensions over religious discourse in the region, where brotherhoods like the Mouridiyya and the Tidianya remain deeply influential.
