29/03/2023
*Gento on Religious Bigotry Scandal*
*By: Mohamed Osman Bangura ( Political)*
The leading Mayoral Aspirant for the ruling, Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), Mohamed Gento Kamara is on the spotlight passive to be a religious bigot.
In a video circulating around the social media, Gento is seen preaching religious intolerance in one of the mosques in Freetown which many human rights organizations, including SLAJ, Interreligious Council, Labour Congress condemned
Gento said most employments in Sierra Leone are Christians dominated, while Muslims are less employed. "Muslims respect Christians, there is too much of advantage to us, that is why I decided to contest for the Freetown Municipal Mayorship," he said, adding that employment opportunity has made lots of Muslim youths defected to Christianity.
Religious bigotry is a harmful and divisive attitude that goes against the principles of respect, compassion, and empathy. It can lead to conflicts, hatred, and even wars.
As bigot is a person who holds strong and unreasonable prejudices or intolerance toward those who are different from themselves, particularly in terms of their religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics, this is what many have believe Gento is.
SLAJ, Laour Congress and Inter Religious Council in their press releases considered Gento's message as hate speech, discriminatory and exclusion, which...https://www.facebook.com/101008668369495/posts/737807064689649/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f
Gento on Religious Bigotry Scandal
By: Mohamed Osman Bangura ( Political)
The leading Mayoral Aspirant for the ruling, Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), Mohamed Gento Kamara is on the spotlight believe to be a religious bigot.
In a video circulating around the social media, Gento is seen preaching religious intolerance in one of the mosques in Freetown which many human rights organizations, including SLAJ, Interreligious Council, Labour Congress condemned.
In his video, Gento said most employments in Sierra Leone are Christians dominated, while Muslims are less employed. "Muslims respect Christians, but Christians never respect Muslims, there is too much of advantage against the Muslims that is why I decided to contest for the Freetown Municipal Mayorship," he said, adding that employment opportunity has made lots of Muslim youths defected to Christianity.
Religious bigotry is a harmful and divisive attitude that goes against the principles of respect, compassion, and empathy. It can lead to conflicts, hatred, and even wars.
As bigot is a person who holds strong and unreasonable prejudices or intolerance toward those who are different from themselves, particularly in terms of their religion, ethnicity gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics, this is what many have believe Gento is.
SLAJ, Laour Congress and Inter Religious Council in their press releases considered Gento's message as hate speech, discriminatory and exclusion, which may spark violence between the big religions in Sierra Leone. Bigotry is harmful and unjust attitude that undermines respect for diversity and human dignity. Religious tolerance, respect for diversity, and the freedom of religion, are fundamental human rights, and these are rights Sierra Leone has enjoyed for decades
Gento should note that religious bigotry can have serious consequences for the health of a democratic nation, including undermining social cohesion, violating human rights, hindering democratic processes, and inciting violence. Thanks to SLAJ, Inter-Religious Council and other organizations to publicly condemned this act.
This is not the first time for Gento to have received condemnation from the republic for his intolerance messages.
It could be recalled that Voice of Salone Newspaper had published stories relating to Mohamed Gento's use of tribal messages for his political gains sometimes last year.
Gento should not that Sierra Leone is a Circular State. To build a more inclusive and just society, our country will continue to promote religious tolerance and respect for diversity.
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©Capitol Times Newspaper