IPNEWS: The Central Mosque of Liberia, popularly known as the ‘Benson Street Mosque’ has denied accusations linking the mosque to endorsing the second-term Presidential bid of President George M. Weah.
On Friday, August 4, 2023, speculation mounted following President George M. Weah and his CDC visits to the Benson Streets Mosque to offer prayers to God for peace and safe elections.
During the president’s visit to the mosque, banners and images of President Weah were seen on the mosque which flooded social.
This incident gained attraction, and many accused the mosque of endorsing the second-term presidential bid of incumbent President George M. Weah and his CDC government.
Now, Chief Imam Mohammed A. Sheriff has told IPNEWS in an exclusive interview Monday, August 7, 2023, that at no point in time did the mosque ever endorse the second term bid of President George Manneh Weah as speculated in many quarters.
According to Chief Imam Sheriff, the president’s visit was in concert with an earlier request to the mosque to join other Muslims to offer prayers to Allah, for peace, unity, and stability into campaign season for the ensuing October 10 general Legislative and Presidential elections.
Imam Sheriff stated that the banner and other pictures that were placed on the mosque to officially welcome the President were never done by him and the authorities of the Benson Street Mosque, but rather by the supporter of President Weah without their approval.
“The Chief Imam of the Central Mosque of Liberia and the entire congratulations categorically condemned the placement of a banner on the mosque in the name of welcoming President Weah to the mosque on Friday, August 4, 2023. We take as serious exception because our religion, Islam doesn’t permit the use of image in sacred areas” he stated.
Imam Sheriff narrated that he regrets the incident and wishes to use this medium and apologize for the banner and images of President Weah that were placed on the mosque, but they didn’t at any point in time endorse the President’s bid.
He assured the general population and the Muslim community that such happening of placing the image on the mosque’s relations to visitors will never happen again as the mosque remains the place for prayer and worship.
Imam Sheriff pointed out that they will never endorse the presidential bid of any political candidate or party because as religious leaders they are there to work with all politicians and provide guidance and direction both spiritually and physically as required by Allah.
He further indicated that the duty of the religious community, especially the Imam and pastors is to offer prayers for the country and ensure that the country is on the good path, providing direction and opportunity for all.
” We can’t endorse any standard bearer or candidate. Not even President Weah or anyone because we don’t have the authority to make him President. More to that, it’s against our religion. The mosque is a worship site, not a place to endorse and so we can never do that ” he concluded. By Taisiah K. Merfee
