By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has appealed for calm, understanding, and renewed commitment to religious tolerance following the circulation of a controversial video on social media in which a religious cleric is heard making comments widely interpreted as discouraging Muslims from accepting Christmas greetings or food from Christians.

The video has sparked intense public debate and concern across Sierra Leone, a country long celebrated—both locally and internationally—for its peaceful interfaith coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

Addressing worshippers and community members on Saturday at the Tabligh Mosque in Macdonald, Vice President Jalloh broke his silence on the issue, urging religious leaders to exercise restraint and responsibility in their sermons and public statements. He reminded clerics of their influential role in shaping public attitudes and social behaviour, stressing that their messages should unite rather than divide communities.

According to the Vice President, religious teachings, whether drawn from the Holy Quran or the Bible, must be conveyed with wisdom and contextual understanding. He noted that faith does not exist in isolation but within societies whose values are shaped by history, culture, and shared experiences. Sierra Leone, he said, has earned global recognition as one of the most religiously tolerant and peaceful nations precisely because its people have consistently placed unity above division.

Dr. Jalloh emphasised that Muslims and Christians in Sierra Leone are not merely neighbours but brothers and sisters who share daily life, social responsibilities, and even family ties. He highlighted the long-standing tradition of Sierra Leoneans attending one another’s weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies, and religious celebrations, regardless of faith.

He noted that these shared moments—mourning together in times of loss, celebrating together in moments of joy, and offering mutual support—form the foundation of the nation’s social cohesion and national identity.

The Vice President also cautioned against absolutism in religious interpretation, reminding religious leaders that no individual holds a monopoly over divine knowledge or understanding. He encouraged humility, consultation, continuous learning, and moderation, particularly when addressing sensitive doctrinal matters that could have far-reaching social consequences.

Leadership, he stressed, especially religious leadership, demands patience, wisdom, and respect for differing views. He warned that inflammatory or uncompromising rhetoric could erode trust and threaten the harmony that Sierra Leoneans have carefully nurtured over generations.

Drawing from personal experience, Dr. Jalloh said that his identity as a Muslim has never prevented him from attending ceremonies held in churches, just as Christians regularly attend events in mosques. He described these interactions as practical demonstrations of interfaith respect and coexistence, rather than mere symbolic gestures.

His address comes amid heightened public discourse following the viral video, which many Sierra Leoneans have described as inconsistent with the country’s long-held values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Concluding his remarks, the Vice President called on all religious leaders to continue promoting messages of love, moderation, and unity. He reaffirmed that safeguarding Sierra Leone’s tradition of religious harmony is a shared responsibility that rests not only on leaders but on all citizens, stressing that the nation’s greatest strength lies in its unity as one people, regardless of religious affiliation. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/vice-president-urges-clerics-to-promote-peace-warns-against-divisive-rhetoric/