|
Mandingo Nations Website |
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
Useful Links |
News And Articles |
||||||||||||
|
Community Links
|
Sheikh Kafumba Points Out Shortfalls
In Nationality Law Courtesy: Public Agenda 22 July, 2010  EXTOLMENTIn the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah-the Almighty, the Sovereign of all sovereignty. We extol Him and glorify His Beautiful Names and Commendable Attributes! FELICITATIONS We bring you warmest greetings and felicitations from the member organizations of the National Muslim Council of Liberia, its Officers and Members of the Executive Committee. We salute and hail you for the invitation extended to us to attend the Public Hearing on the Nationality Law under the auspices of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Claims, Petitions and Human Rights. We believe the rationale associated with this invitation, is to afford us, as an integral part of our Nation Statehood, to share our candid opinion on the said draft that is pending before the said Committee. We are impressed and fascinated by this gesture; for it tends to suggest that the concept of pluralism is taken its course in our national decision making! However, we are constrained to register our serious reservation on convening the hearing on Friday, knowing very well that it is a congregational prayer day (or in the Christian appellation, the Sabbath day) for Muslims. We calculate this as an attempt to disrespect or ignore the religious sanctity of the Muslims-something that does not speak well for a society is multi-religious and multi-cultural. We hope that this Committee will not only take a due note of this reservation, but will also relate same to the entire membership of the august body of the Senate; so as to avoid its repetition. INTRODUCTION A careful perusal of the entire draft reveals that it centers on two things: (a) Gender Equality; and (b) Dual Citizenship, something we interpose no objection to. In fact, we see it as a fulfillment of the Divine Message contains in Al-Qur’an-the Holy Scripture of Al-Islam concerning universal brotherhood of human-kind. The Holy Scripture is replete of this message; but due to time limit, we will give a synopsis of very few. They are: (a) Human production and reproduction from a single soul and spread to cover the four corners of the world (4:1); (b) variation of languages, sub-languages and colors (30:22); and (c) division of human-race into nations and tribes. The Scripture then concludes by saying that the calculated rationale of the foregoing is to develop better acquaintance among members of human-family as a means for mutual interaction and harmonious coexistence. RESERVATIONS In as much as we interpose no objection to the ideal associated with the draft act, but there are certain deficiencies within its text; which we do not see it feasible to ignore them. Of course, it is an open secret that human handiwork is naturally subject to imperfection; something that makes consultation necessary to minimize such imperfection in the decision making process. Please allow us to share these deficiencies with you. Before we do so, we would like to acknowledge that it is the right of every nation to promulgate laws or national codes in a form and manner that is befitting. At times the law of one nation may vary from that of the other. This is the dynamic of national sovereignty. However, in the promulgation of such codes, its framers must appreciate that: 1. Law is a progressive science; and as the society progresses, the need to improve on it and make it march-able to the cadence of such society, becomes an imperative necessity. 2. Law is also elastic element; something like a loosely woven fabric. For this reason, judicial interpretation and executive implementation come, at times, into conflict with the Legislative intent. For examples, a) Tubman’s Immigration and Open Door Policy. In that, the actual motive behind its enunciation and subsequent legislation was to put “vigorous new blood” in the “Americo-Liberian population.” However, its understanding, interpretation and implementation could not but transcend far beyond the intent; and b) The ten years clause contained in the 1986 Constitution-the interpretation of which has taken a wider dimension in recent time. In consideration of the foregoing, we beg to urge this honorable Senate Committee to revisit and revamp the draft for further enrichment. In so doing, we hope you will take into account that: a) Dual Citizenship entails divided loyalty and separate allegiances. In case of an eventuality, such as war or even conflict of interest; what would be the legal remedy in the premises? b) The text of the draft act is tainted with discriminatory assertions. In that, it addresses and limits itself to the rights of a citizen by birth and not those by naturalization. This, we believe, contravenes the generally accepted norm of equality before the law of any and every civilized society (see section 22.1. (Paragraphs a, b, c & d of the said draft). In view of the foregoing, we recommend that the draft be taken back to the Committee Room of Deliberation for necessary review and correction. May Allah grant our Nation and its people with abundant peace, security and prosperity. Ameena! |
||||||||||||
|
Mandingo
Nations Webite Incorp. |
|||||||||||||
