The Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Community (Masjidul Bayaan) within the Tamale Metropolis, has strongly refuted the assertion by the Anbariyya Sunni Community that the leader of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’ah Sheikh Ibrahim Basha has urged his followers to arm themselves in readiness for war against the Anbariya Sunni Community.
The group in a press statement indicated that the leader of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’ah and Imam of Masjidul Bayaan Sheikh Ibrahim Basha throughout his preaching for over fifty years in Tamale has never promoted or initiated any violent attacks against any Muslim group or individual in Tamale, hence it is not true he has declared war against the Anbariya Sunni Community within the greater Tamale area.
“Sheikh Bayaan has persistently appealed to his followers to remain calm in the face of provocations, verbal abuse and attacks,” the group stated.
Their response comes after the Anbariya Sunni Community accused the leader of Masjidul Bayaan, Shiekh Ibrahim Basha (SHIEKH BAYAAN) of wagging war against the Anbariya Sunni Community within the Tamale Metropolis.
This, the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah in a statement signed by the secretary of Masjidul Bayaan, Alhaji Ibrahim Yussif, says the Anbariya Sunni Community has been relentless in their violent attacks, against Sheikh Bayaan, the AhIus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Community and any other Muslim scholar or group in Tamale who expresses dissent on any matter in Islam vis-å-vis the stands of the Anbariya Sunni Community.
“The most recent of this campaign of violence and intolerance is witnessed in series of audio recordings made and circulated on social media by members of the Anbariya Sunni Community making disparaging attacks on Sheikh Bayaan and inciting violence against him and also openly urging members of the Anbariya Sunni Community to vandalize and destroy Masjidul Bayaan”, he added.
Read the full Statement Below:
RE: RESPONSE TO A CIRCULATING VIDEO OF SHEIKH IBRAHIM BASHA (SHEIKH BAYAAN)
We members of Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama’ah (Masjidul Bayaan) in Tamale wish to bring to the attention of the general public the deliberate campaign of violence and disinformation waged by the Ambariya Sunni Community in Tamale led by one Dr. Tamim against Sheikh Bayaan and members of Masjidul Bayaan.
The Ambariya community has been relentless in their violent attacks, both physical and verbal, against Sheikh Bayaan, the AhIus-Sunnah wal Jama’ah community and any other Muslim scholar or group in Tamale who express dissent on any matter in Islam vis-å-vis the stands of Ambariya Sunni Community.
The most recent of this campaign of violence and intolerance is witnessed in series of audio recordings made and circulated on social media by members of the Ambariya Sunni Community making disparaging attacks on Sheikh Bayaan and inciting violence against him and also openly urging members of the Ambariya Sunni Community to vandalise and destroy Masjidul Bayaan.
Also in recent past, people from the Ambariya Sunni community were sent to disrupt weekly Friday preaching at Masjidul Bayaan. The general public will also recall the incident of death threats and threats of attack made by members of the Ambariya Sunni Community against Sheikh Bayaan and how they unleashed violence upon him when he went to the police station to make a complaint about those threats.
Sheikh Bayaan is not the only victim of this campaign of violence, intimidation and intolerance waged by the Ambariya Sunni Community.The general public will recall the shameful recent violent attack on Dr. Abdur Rabbin Nabi. This is still painfully fresh in our memories.
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Despite these persistent and unprovoked attacks on Sheikh Bayaan and the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama’ah community, Sheikh Bayaan remains steadfast and focused in preaching the authentic message of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and has never, for the over fifty years of his preaching in Tamale, ever promoted any attack in any shape or form on any Muslim or any other person. Sheikh Bayaan has persistently appealed to his followers to remain calm in the face of provocations, verbal abuse and attacks. We members of Masjidul ‘Bayaan uphold the values of peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity in the face of extreme provocations.
We wish however to renew our appeal to the Chiefs, opinion leaders, the REGSEC and other security agencies to be proactive and not turn a blind eye to these acts of impunity by the Ambariya Sunni Community.
We equally appeal to journalist to provide a fair, balanced and accurate reportage on religious issues in Tamale and notfto join partners with elements who hide behind Islam to radicalise young Muslims in Tamale.
We continue to pray and urge members of our Community to continue to be law-abiding and eschew any violent tendencies in the face of deliberate twisting of facts and media campaign against Sheikh Bayaan.
Thank you.
Alhaji Ibrahim Yussif
(secretary Masjidul Bayaan )
To: All Media Houses cc:
The Regional Security Council (REGSEC) – Northern Region
The Metro Security Council (METSEC) -Tamale
The Regional Police Commander – Northern Region
The Gbewaa Palace, Yendi •Gulpke Naa Palace- Tamale Dakpema Palace, Tamale
National Peace Council- NR
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu
