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Liberia: Islamic Groups Call For Reforms
January 14, 2008 by J. Nathaniel Daygbor

Liberia Muslim Youths
Representatives of 21 Islamic groupings in the country have called for reforms in various sectors of national administration with the view of upholding the constitution of Liberia, which specifics that all faiths in the country shall be equally treated without any receiving exclusive privilege over the others.

Making the call over the weekend after a day long retreat held at the Muslim Congress in Monrovia, the Islamic institutions and non governmental organizations high lighted that there is a growing wave of religious intolerance that threatens to saturate Liberian society.

The President of the organization of Liberian Muslim Youth (OLMY), Ibrahim B. Dukuly said that employments and appointments of chaplains at public offices within the three branches of government should be done in consonance with the constitution of Liberia.

He also said that working holidays in the country need to be granted to all religious groups with the respective days of festivities and prayers constituting National Holidays in the country.

The Islamic groups also called upon the government of Liberia to constitute what they called a 'council of religious advisors' comprising representatives of all religious faiths in the country instead of taking a single religious leader of one faith to become an advisor to the chief of state.

Turning their attention to religious education in the public schools, the Muslim groups insisted that such education must encompass components on all religions in Liberia. They said that this approach would create for balance in the educational upbringing of children for their deeper appreciation of all faiths in the country.

Concluding the fifth point of their resolution, the groups maintained that the national educational curriculum on history need to be tailored in a way that the contribution of every segment of the population of the Liberian state is never smothered.

Keen observers of the religious landscape of the country have reckoned that the resolution of the Muslim groups in emerging in the wake of recent calls by Information Minister, Rev. Dr. Laurence Bropleh that Liberian Muslims need to also be granted holidays.

He also said that Muslims need to form part of the religious board of state branches amongst others. Although the Information Minister apparently made the call in good faith, it has nonetheless been greeted with volleys of criticisms given his high status in the Christian community.

Some people even went to the extent of branding him as fronting for other religious persuasions against Christianity, through using his new position in government as a proper conduit to do so.

Mr. Dukuly indicated that their organizations daylong consultative meeting was held for the purpose of identifying the problems facing the holistic development of the Muslim community in Liberia and to also seek solutions to them accordingly.


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		Liberia: Islamic Groups Call For Reforms January 14, 2008 by J. Nathaniel Daygbor Liberia Muslim Youths Representatives of 21 Islamic groupings in the country have called for reforms in various sectors of national administration with the view of upholding the constitution of Liberia, which specifics that all faiths in the country shall be equally treated without any receiving exclusive privilege over the others. Making the call over the weekend after a day long retreat held at the Muslim Congress in Monrovia, the Islamic institutions and non governmental organizations high lighted that there is a growing wave of religious intolerance that threatens to saturate Liberian society. The President of the organization of Liberian Muslim Youth (OLMY), Ibrahim B. Dukuly said that employments and appointments of chaplains at public offices within the three branches of government should be done in consonance with the constitution of Liberia. He also said that working holidays in the country need to be granted to all religious groups with the respective days of festivities and prayers constituting National Holidays in the country. The Islamic groups also called upon the government of Liberia to constitute what they called a 'council of religious advisors' comprising representatives of all religious faiths in the country instead of taking a single religious leader of one faith to become an advisor to the chief of state. Turning their attention to religious education in the public schools, the Muslim groups insisted that such education must encompass components on all religions in Liberia. They said that this approach would create for balance in the educational upbringing of children for their deeper appreciation of all faiths in the country. Concluding the fifth point of their resolution, the groups maintained that the national educational curriculum on history need to be tailored in a way that the contribution of every segment of the population of the Liberian state is never smothered. Keen observers of the religious landscape of the country have reckoned that the resolution of the Muslim groups in emerging in the wake of recent calls by Information Minister, Rev. Dr. Laurence Bropleh that Liberian Muslims need to also be granted holidays. He also said that Muslims need to form part of the religious board of state branches amongst others. Although the Information Minister apparently made the call in good faith, it has nonetheless been greeted with volleys of criticisms given his high status in the Christian community. Some people even went to the extent of branding him as fronting for other religious persuasions against Christianity, through using his new position in government as a proper conduit to do so. Mr. Dukuly indicated that their organizations daylong consultative meeting was held for the purpose of identifying the problems facing the holistic development of the Muslim community in Liberia and to also seek solutions to them accordingly. allafrica