It's not yet a month since President Yahya
Jammeh declared Gambia an Islamic Republic -
ostensibly in a bid to break away from its colonial
past - but the implications of that announcement
are only coming into play. The president
maintained that other faiths retained their
freedoms regardless but all female civil servants
are now required to cover their hair.
No reasons were given for the introduction of the
new rule, which was announced in a memo that
was leaked to local opposition newspapers.
The memo, published by Freedom stated 'all
female staff' within government departments were
no longer allowed to expose their hair during
working hours, effective from December 31.
It went on to urge female staff 'to use a head tie
and neatly wrap their hair'.
'All heads of departments and agencies are
urgently advised to implement this directive and
bring it to the attention of their female staff,' the
memo concluded.
Although it doesn't appear that the president's
announcement changes Gambia's laws or its
constitutional status as a secular state, it could
yet form the justification for rules such as that
now affecting its female employees.
'Gambia cannot afford to continue the colonial
legacy,' Jammeh said of his country, which
gained independence from Britain in 1965.
Jammeh said the rights of Gambia's Christian
community will be respected and there would be
no mandates on dress.
'We will be an Islamic state that would respect
the rights of all citizens and non-citizens.'
However, the head of the country's Islamic body
wouldn't say if he endorsed the declaration.
'We haven't met yet to discuss over the
presidential announcement,' said Gambia's
Supreme Islamic Council Chairman Imam
Momodou Lamin Touray.
Hamat Bah of the opposition National
Reconciliation Party criticized the decision.
'There is a constitutional clause that says that
Gambia is a secular state. You cannot make such
a declaration without going through a
referendum.'
Jammeh has ruled Gambia since seizing power in
1994.
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