Following a Covid-19 regulation order from the government, ordering the general public to wear face masks failure to which lies a fine of D1000 or serve some time in jail with hard labour. The  police in the same light, launched the ’Safe Our Soul’ campaign to ensure the full execution of the 21 days curfew orders, and all other Covid-19 safety measures as enshrined in the Covid-19 regulatory act.

However, some Gambian women in Niqab, verbalized their dashing hopes in the manner in which they harassed them. Niqab is a veil worn by some Muslim women in public, covering all of the face except the eyes.

One of the victims in an audio evinced her outrage and disappointment with The Gambia Police Force. She explained that one of the officers in Serekunda Market asked her to wear a face mask but politely told him she already had her niqab on and since  they both serve the same purpose, it would not be necessary to wear a face mask.

The officer however, insisted that she must either wear a face mask on top of her niqab or remove her niqab and wear a face mask. According to the lady, she told her she was not having enough money on her to buy a face mask as she was only with her fish money but the officer continued howling at her.

She further narrated that she went through a similar harassment at the Tallinding market when a lady in uniform ordered her to wear a face or she would not step her feet into the market. She added that, she stood there for almost two hour trying to explain to the officer that both niqab and face mask play the same function as the goal is to cover your mouth and nose.

The officer refused to allow her into the market, but she equally remained resolute on her ground and refused to succumb to her request/order. After all efforts proved futile, she went back home and sent her brother In law, to buy cooking items for her from the market.

Chebou Cham, a renowned Islamic scholar, released a short video appealing to The Gambia Police Force to be lenient and allow women who choose to wear the Niqab to do so freely without any form of intimidation. He said, the Niqab plays the same role as face masks as far as Covid-19 safety precautions are concerned.

By: Fatoumatta Samateh