NEWS, GAMBIA, BANJUL- The government of The Gambia has denied reports by certain international media networks such as the BBC, CNN and Aljazeera of the deportation to The Gambia of a Kenyan/Jamaican national ?radical muslim cleric? in the name of Abdullah Al Faisal who allegedly had links to Al Qaeda.
In a joint press release issued by the ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, the two ministries described the media reports as malicious, unfounded and misleading and that no such person has landed on the shores of The Gambia.
The release reads:
It has come to the attention of the government of The Gambia that certain international media networks such as the BBC, CNN and Aljazeera have recently reported the deportation to The Gambia of a Kenyan/Jamaican national by the name of Abdullah Al Faisal who allegedly had links to Al Qaeda.
The government wish to inform the general public, all diplomatic missions accredited to The Gambia, and the whole world that these reports are malicious, unfounded and misleading and that no such person has landed on the shores of The Gambia. All statements alluding to the arrival in The Gambia of Abdullah Al Faisal are absolutely false, baseless and an insult to the peace-loving people of The Gambia.
Furthermore, there has never been any contact between the government of Kenya and the government of The Gambia on the said deportation of Abdullah Al Faisal to The Gambia. Given government?s position of ?zero tolerance? on crime, more so on terrorism and terrorists, it is inconceivable that The Gambia government would entertain, let alone welcome a person being deported for whatever reason and who is not a Gambian and allegedly linked to terrorism.
The government wish to reassure the international community and friends of The Gambia of its commitment to main The Gambia as a haven of peace and prosperity where hate-mongers, racists, criminals and terrorists are not welcome. Any airline who dares to fly the said Abdullah Al Faisal to The Gambia will be impounded and those responsible will be charged for terrorist crimes against The Gambia and be prosecuted to the letter. We have no intention, whatsoever to entertain such activities of deporting terror suspects, terrorists or deportees on our soil.
Editor's Note:
The Jamaican-born Muslim cleric has been sent back to Nairobi from Nigeria, days after he was expelled from Kenya. He has never been in The Gambia , and the cleric himself has clarified it to AFP news agency from his prison cell in Kenya.
source: Daily Observer
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