By Awa DK Conteh
Abass Muhideen Hydara, eldest son of Sheikh Muhideen Hydara, testified on behalf of his late father who was Khalif General and victim of the religious attacks by former President Jammeh.
According to him, when his father was arrested, they took him to Bwiam Police Station and at this time, he was about 80-90 years old. He said at around 5Pm, they took his father from Bwiam to Sibanor where they spent the night and the following day, they were taken to Yundum Police Station. He said they were later taken to Banjul Police Headquarters and upon arrival they ordered his father's followers to stay down stairs of the police headquarters and were not allowed to follow the old man inside the station.
Mr. Hydara testified that they were later sent to Supreme Islamic Council because the President of Supreme Islamic Council, Modou Lamin Touray did say that after the government observed the Eid Prayers, no other person was allowed to pray. He said it was on that they decided to go and engage him and his people.
He revealed that while at Supreme Council, Imam Fatty told his father that he was the one who “arrested him and not the government; he then urged my father to accept that he was wrong so that he would be released but my father refused."
A news article from FOROYAA dated 4th August, 2014 disclosed that during the meeting at the Supreme Islamic Council the Khalif General intimated to them that he was not going to accept any wrongdoing, neither would he apologise to anyone.
Mr. Hydara informed the TRRC that his father and the Alkalo were granted bail in the sum of D100,000 each. However, his father was subsequently charged and the trial started on the 12 August, 2014 at the Brikama Magistrate's Court and it ended in May 2015. He was jointly charged with Wuyeh Touray for disobeying the lawful orders made by Yahya Jammeh on the observations of Eid Prayers.
However, the matter was later transferred to the High Court and the matter was presided over by Justice Joseph Ikpala whom he said was independent because his salary was coming from the Nigerian government and therefore would not dance to the tune of Yahya Jammeh's government.
Prior to his father's demise, he accompanied him to the pharmacy to seek for treatment and this was the last day he saw him; adding that his sudden demise had connections to his arrest.
In his concluding remarks he said despite his father went through terrible things they appreciated it because he was not arrested for engaging in illegality. He suggested that Supreme Islamic Council should be renamed as they did for the defunct NIA. He said he trust the TRRC's job.
Mr. Hydara appealed for the National Assembly and the government to make sure that the TRRC recommendations are implemented. He also appealed to the media to practice responsible journalism and avoid filtering information which will jeopardise the peace of the nation.
