My name is Imam Alie Bangura. I am the Chief Imam of Congo Cross Mosque, and I have been part of the Congo Town community for many years. I want to stress the significance of the land that has been leased, a space that has been used by both Muslims and Christians for various community activities, including school functions and Eid prayers.
This land lease has had a negative impact on our schoolchildren and the Muslim community. The church's construction has limited our access to this space, affecting our traditional Eid prayers and other community events that we used to hold there.
I'm deeply disappointed that the Freetown City Council proceeded with the land lease without seeking the community's consent, resulting in significant changes to our environment.
I recall our community's efforts to address this issue, including visiting Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who said she was misinformed over the purpose of the lease being a hospital rather than a church.
We're now asking that the construction be stopped to prevent future problems within the school compound. Currently, it has been made into a car park, which raises safety concerns for our children. There's also a fear that if this situation continues, the school may eventually have to close.
I'm particularly concerned about the reduced prayer space for the Muslim community because of the ongoing construction. This has led to people gathering in the street for prayers that disrupt the normal flow of traffic. Despite many attempts to engage with the authorities, it seems that our community's concerns have been disregarded in favor of the church's mission, with support from certain individuals.
This interview and blog were originally published in November 2022.
