Ahmadiyya hails Court's rejection of Guinea- Bissau’s Presidential order
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 August 2001 - The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana on Wednesday commended a High Court in Guinea-Bissau for nullifying an order by President Koumba Yalla to expel Ahmadi missionaries and doctors from the country on allegations of bribery and politicking.
The High Court last Friday ruled that President Yalla had no right to expel the missionaries since the mission had been duly registered in line with the country's laws.
The President's controversial order also led to the resignation of the country's Minister of Religious Affairs, Ebrahim Sory Diallo.
Maulvi A. Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary- in- Charge of the Mission in Ghana in a statement in Accra said the court's rejection of the president's order was a reflection of the rule of law and due process, both vital ingredients for democratic governance in any civilized country.
It described President Yalla's allegations against the Ahmadi Muslim Community as baseless and unfounded. The statement said the resignation of Mr Diallo, in protest at the expulsion order gave credence to the fact that the motives were ill conceived.
It said the nearly 30,000 indigenous Ahmadi Muslims in Guinea-Bissau have the right as law abiding and peaceful citizens to participate in and contribute to the social, political and economic development of their country.
"We therefore urge the government of Guinea Bissau to ensure that Ahmadi Muslims there exercise their rights to freedom of religion and association as guaranteed by that country's Constitution and the Human Rights Charter of the United Nations to which Guinea-Bissau is a signatory," the statement added.
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