Leaders Condemn Preachers Discouraging Interfaith Christmas Goodwill

Leaders Condemn Preachers Discouraging Interfaith Christmas Goodwill

Senior Sierra Leonean officials have issued strong condemnations of a video circulating on social media in which a Muslim preacher advised against accepting food or gifts from Christians during the Christmas season.

Honourable Justice Momoh-Jah Stevens, Amir of the United Muslim Progressive Council (UMPC) and an Appeal Court Judge, characterized the preacher's message as "hate speech intended to fracture the long-standing respect and tolerance between Muslims and Christians in Sierra Leone." He asserted that the comments lack foundation in any Quranic verse or Hadith and demanded the preacher immediately retract the statements and issue an apology.

The unnamed preacher had controversially warned that Muslims accepting gifts or food from Christian neighbours would "automatically go to hell." This sentiment drew widespread criticism from senior Muslim scholars and preachers, who uniformly affirmed that such remarks contradict established Islamic teachings and undermine the nation's tradition of interfaith harmony.

The Ministry of Social Welfare released a statement on 27 December 2025, clarifying that the preacher's views are unrepresentative of Sierra Leone's values or traditions. The Ministry underscored the country's extensive history of peaceful coexistence, noting that Muslim and Christian communities regularly celebrate together and exchange goodwill without compromising individual religious belief. It called upon all religious leaders and public figures to exercise responsibility, particularly on social media, to foster national unity and peace.

Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, a prominent former cabinet minister and senior member of the All People’s Congress (APC), contributed to the discourse, cautioning that attempts to defend the video serve as an "early warning" regarding the state of religious tolerance in Sierra Leone. She urged citizens and leaders to maintain vigilance in safeguarding the country’s enduring interfaith harmony.

Justice Stevens reinforced his position, stating, “I condemn the Shiekh who criticizes the celebration and recognition of Christmas. I therefore call on the said Shiekh to withdraw those unfortunate statements immediately and apologize, otherwise due process must be enforced.”

The incident has catalyzed a nationwide discussion on the critical importance of religious tolerance and social cohesion, serving as a reminder to all citizens and leaders of the delicate interfaith balance that is foundational to Sierra Leonean society.