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Sheikh Abu Bakarr Kamara, a prominent Muslim cleric, has been arrested and transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Freetown following controversial statements regarding Muslims celebrating Christmas.
Police reports indicate that the Sheikh was taken into custody on allegations of incitement.
According to sources, Sheikh Kamara was initially invited to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (South) at the Bo West Police Station yesterday evening. After being interrogated, he was detained overnight.
Early this morning, the cleric was transported from Bo to the CID Headquarters in Freetown for further investigation.
SL Islamic Web TV confirmed the detention, stating that efforts are underway to secure legal representation for the Sheikh. “Fellow Muslims are trying to secure lawyers for him, and some Muslim lawyers are even volunteering to support him,” the platform reported, urging followers to remain calm and avoid making inflammatory media comments while the legal team handles the matter.
The arrest follows a viral video sermon in which Sheikh Kamara warned the Muslim Jama’at against participating in Christmas festivities. In the footage, he allegedly stated that any Muslim who celebrates the holiday—including eating “Christmas rice”—is committing a wrongdoing and is destined for hell.
The comments sparked widespread debate on social media, with critics arguing the rhetoric threatened Sierra Leone’s long-standing tradition of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
The police action comes despite a public apology issued by Sheikh Kamara on December 28 via S.I.K. Online TV. In his statement, the cleric claimed his sermon had been edited and taken out of context to misrepresent his message.
“I do not know the person who shared that video… It was cut and pasted in such a way that it misrepresents my message,” Kamara stated. He expressed regret for any offense caused to the Christian community and President Julius Maada Bio, emphasizing that his intent was to guide Muslims on Islamic doctrine, not to sow division.
The controversy previously drew a response from the Ministry of Social Welfare on December 27. The Ministry issued a statement condemning rhetoric that promotes exclusion, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting religious freedom and national harmony.
The investigation is ongoing at the CID Headquarters.
It’s really pathetic to see things like this going in in this country!
How can someone be arrested simply because he tried to guide the Muslims?
You sense small
Honestly my brother
Hmm, this is pathetic as I see nothing that should have caused the arrest of the man, the preaching is correct if you are Muslim, you should not partake in Christmas celebration, meh.
I’m strongly against such hate & misguided preaching because it is very inciting & in many ways could be misinterpreted & in the mere future could spark some kind of religious clash,which i believe is very uncharacteristic of this our beautiful country.
Did he said Christina would go to hell
God bless you my brother
Tell me, is this a drama? what is police even doing in this matter?
This is rubbish, why should the man be arrested and detained over a preaching which is in line with the Islamic doctrine. He should have been cautioned and or warned
Please stop sending messages that will make situation difficult ok.
This is not in line with Islamic doctrine. In saying that I don’t think he should be detained. A warning will suffice. However people should be very careful with religious utterances. Too many deaths going around the world because of things like these.
When mufti came in sierra Leone and he was given the national stadium to pass his message he said sierra Leone is a Muslim state a pastor came out and debunk his message and that pastor was arrested and detained in CID headquarter at pademba road for some days befor he was released the reason behind his dentation is because he want cause a fight between the Christians and Muslims
So if this sheikh was arrested for questioning what wrong about that for the safety of our the country please let be plane here
You’re all bunch of fool, why do Muslims celebrate or observe the birth of their Prophet besides if we the Christians also decide not to participate in the holy month of Ramadan?
That should not be a sermon at that particular time of the season. It would have done before the Christmas season, he’s indirectly preaching hatred and trying to bring division among we the Christian and Muslims. Why do they feel so superior over us? God doesn’t have religion is just a way of worship him in different manner.
We’re all serving the same Being in different ways accept ours then we’ll accept yours lonta. No one judge only God.
He should have said no Muslim is permitted to celebrate Christmas day as it is scriptural. But making a final judgement for those Muslim whom intended to celebrate with friends and family from the other side that ” they will go to hell” makes him to go out of context in this part of the world where we found ourselves. Judgement is in the hands of Allah/God. @gvsl, please consider his apology. Sierra Leone is a peaceful coexistence country, no one or message will separate us.
Mr. AIG if you listened to the message very well the sheikh said MUSLIM who celebrates Christmas will go to hell he didn’t say Christians. Why do you advise people not to do or go close to bad people so why the Iman advising his fellow Muslim become a WAR. Sierra Leone again a country where you can’t say the truth become a WAR