Story by: Yunus Swalahudeen Wakpenjo
Source: millennium news online
Counter reaction by section of Muslims over an opinion expressed by justice Amadu Tanko, the newly appointed Supreme Court judge was backward and absurd. Religiously and constitutionally, people have their right to express opinion without being abused.
Justice Tanko like any other human being have expressed his opinion on a matter, painfully as it may, Muslims have the right to use a responsible and discipline way of drawing his attention to what seem to be painful comment against the religion he belong. However, the absurdity with which he was attacked by individual Muslims and groups was not the teachings of Islam.
Islam teaches tolerance and due process in everything regardless, however, over the years, some Muslims in Ghana have used wrong means in asking for their rights and what is rightfully due them, while achieving similar result.
We live in a democratic country, however, what we fail to understand is the fact that, tenet of democracy, is clear adherent to due process and rule of law. The use of abuse, agitations on street and social media or whatever medium, would not settle a legal matter, like the issue of rights and its related acts.
“Being learned in a certain field would not mean that you are learned in all fields. You can be an ignorant in certain field where another is well informed regardless”. I Stressed.
Muslims could have pardoned justice Tanko in the eyes of the public and reshape his opinion with facts and reasons, behind the scene. The Muslim community needs Justice Tanko now more than before to achieve their quest for equal rights and legal issues.
By mere expression of opinion, many Muslim scholars who dared to differentiate opinion from legal issues, were equally threatened and antagonized by these irate sections of the community.
Institutions such as the Islamic human rights foundation Ghana could have been used as a conduit to achieve many issues relating to policies, rights and legal affairs which may affect the Muslim community. Taking on rampage and raining insult and counter attack certainly will not be a solution.