Police spokesperson ASP Lamin Njie says the arrest of Imams is no witch -hunt on Islam as a religion.
Police recently swoop in on Islamic scholars who continue to lead congregational prayers especially on Fridays.
According to the police department, a couple of imams have been arrested beginning with the Jarra Kani Kunda, Brikama Dasilame and Sanchaba imams respectively.
The mosque leaders were found to have flouted the state of emergency imposed by government following voting by parliament.
Opinions have been divided over the move amid claims police are on a clamp down on imams and Islam.
“There are emergency regulations which empowers the police to ensure enforcement. It’s not an attack on Islam or witch-hunt rather we are out to protect health of the public.
“Some more religious countries have gone ahead to close their mosques and ban public gatherings so we are just enforcing these laws for the good of everybody. A number of Imams have been arrested but we release them on immediate bail also for our own good because we can’t afford to have them congest the cells,” ASP Lamin Njie said.
Gambia have just one case of covid-19 death since March 17 when the West African nation experienced its first case which has since soared to ten with six active.
