Gambia’s Islamic Council ‘Fully Consulted’ Over FGM Ban, Supreme Court Hears

By Alieu Jallow

The Gambia’s Supreme Islamic Council was actively involved in every stage of the consultations that led to the criminalisation of female genital mutilation (FGM), the country’s highest court has been told.

Nenneh Touray, Deputy Director at the Directorate of Gender Equality under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Women’s Affairs, disclosed on Thursday while testifying before a panel of Supreme Court judges presided over by Justice Cherno Sulayman Jallow.

The testimony comes amid an ongoing landmark appeal challenging the constitutionality of the West African nation’s 2015 ban on the practice. The legal challenge seeks to overturn the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, which outlawed all forms of FGM and prescribed strict criminal penalties for anyone who performs, aids, or promotes it.

Extensive Consultations

Responding to questioning, Touray maintained that the gender ministry undertook exhaustive nationwide discussions with a broad range of community stakeholders and institutions to ensure an inclusive legislative process. She firmly rejected any suggestion that religious leaders were sidelined.

“Leading to the amendment and even after the amendment and up to the defence, we have been engaging the Supreme Islamic Council. We never left them out of our events,” Ms Touray told the court.

The case has drawn immense national and international scrutiny, igniting fierce debates over constitutional rights, public health, cultural traditions, and differing religious interpretations. The final ruling by the Supreme Court is expected to set a major judicial precedent for the protection of women and girls across the region.

Nationwide Campaigns

Touray further testified that the government collaborated closely with numerous civil society organisations to educate local communities about the harmful health effects of the practice before and after the law was enacted.

“The sensitisation was later continued by civil society organisations like GAMCOTRAP, the Association for the Advancement of Women and Girls, HEPDO, which was initially called TAYAAM, working closely with the Ministry of Health, Wassu Kafo, Safe Hands for Girls, and many others. All these organisations worked closely with communities to create awareness,” she stated.

The high-stakes case has been adjourned until Tuesday, 14 July 2026. The court is next expected to cross-examine Dr Mustapha Bittaye, the Chief Medical Officer at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, who will provide expert medical evidence on behalf of the state.