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Sheikh Abu Bakarr Kamara, the prominent Muslim cleric arrested yesterday in connection with controversial comments regarding Christmas celebrations, has been released from police custody.
The development comes just hours after he was transferred from the Bo West Police Station to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Freetown for questioning on allegations of incitement.
SL Islamic Web TV confirmed the release in a statement issued shortly after the decision was made. “Alhamdulillah he has been freed,” the platform wrote in a social media update. “Great work done by so many people! Please share this news!”
The release follows intense behind-the-scenes efforts by legal representatives and community leaders who mobilized quickly to support the Sheikh. While details regarding the conditions of his release have not yet been made public, his legal team had previously urged calm and advised the Muslim community to refrain from making inflammatory media comments while negotiations were underway.
Sheikh Kamara’s detention stemmed from a viral video sermon in which he warned Muslims that celebrating Christmas was a sin punishable by hell. The remarks drew sharp criticism for potentially undermining Sierra Leone’s tradition of religious tolerance.
Prior to his arrest, the Sheikh had issued a public apology to President Julius Maada Bio and the Christian community, asserting that his sermon had been edited out of context and that he never intended to cause division.
The Sierra Leone Police have not yet issued an official statement regarding the conclusion of their investigation or whether any charges remain pending.
Oooh salone,may God bless you my Immam
Na protocol. Just to avoid conflict
There’s nothing they can do to him.
To us the believers we obviously knew that, it the very fact. We can still keep it, but not in deviation.
I am a devout Muslim and I outrightly dis agree with the Imam’s comment about hell.We the Muslims should not participate in the celebration of Christmas as it is not the doctrine of our religion.With regards to the reference of someone going to hell is totally troublesome.
I condemned his arrest as two wrongs don’t make a right.
He is entitled to his opinion even though he did it recklessly and outrightly unacceptable.
His arrest was a blunder on the side of the decision making process by the authorities.
His immediate release is well timely and acceptable.
Sierra Leone is blessed with its religious tolerance and peaceful environment.
Thank you Alhaji Tunkara. I agree that Sheikh Abu Bakarr is entitled to his opinion. However, in expressing one’s opinion, one must consider how it affects/impacts other people. A reckless expression of one’s opinion is unacceptable in a decent society. It is even worse when a religious leader is involved. I hope the Sheikh has learnt his lesson the hard way. He has been released from police custody, but imagine the harassment, humiliation, embarrassment, physical and mental torture he has gone through.
May God Almighty have mercy on him.