OPINION
THE WRONGS OF THE WRONG: FORCED MARRIAGES. Part one
BY Yero Jallow (Dalton)



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October 19, 2005
Great and strange things happen for great and wonderful changes. The case
for Fatoumatta Jallow is one exposure among the many cases out there, that
are long over due for burial.

Female Gender activists are galvanized at this time. This is the very way
to go in support of a comrade in trouble who landed in more trouble. The
case for Fatoumatta Jallow is a sad situation, but we cannot be fair
without a weigh of this matter. Certainly, we have to go in for rescue
operation for the many victims out there, and the many would-be-victims.
This is an opening chapter on enlightenment or a closing chapter in the
closure of the route, to force teenagers into marriage. The many victims
by majority who happen to be females.

Now to start with, my respect goes to FJC and Amie Sillah for their stance
on this issue. They are making an impact on the case, and they should
continue. I commend them for their stance , and i do hope they take pride
in what they do. They also might want to escalate the situation and
organise a country wide march with banners aforetime, and on the very day
a verdict is expected on Fatoumatta's hearing.

Fatoumatta's case resembles the saying from the cooking pot to the frying
pan. In order words, from a state of torture and sexual abuse to a state
of murder, in defence for her rights. The confession that Fatoumatta did
of killing her husband, could to the maximum cost her life in jail, in
which case it is a big loss to her struggles, friends and family members.

Whoever her parents are, should also be screened and see that their next
daughter or one of Fatoumatta's sisters is not a target of the same cruel
system. Fatoumatta's parents, even if they have to be free, cannot be left
un counseled. The virus might still be rooted in them and it is very vital
that this is rooted out. Where Fatoumatta is breaking her fast in jail,
the parents should surrender themselves to authorities, and break fast
with her in jail. For the tricky question at hand, would she have
committed the murder if she was not forced into this marriage ? This
murder case becomes indirectly linked to Fatoumatta's parents.

To fatoumatta herself, if what she said is true, which we will go by till
otherwise, then my great feelings and empathy for her. It is a form of
slavely to fall under rape and forced sex, and live with it , even where
as you never liked it from the beginning. That right there is the greatest
wrongs of all wrongs.

This will ever be a reference for the society, and by this you have
rescued many. This is in defence of your rights, and i hope and pray that
Almighty Allknower, judges you not on your crime of murder but on your
struggle to be free from slavery and sexual assault. I join others in
empathy for the unfortunate incident of your forced marriage , secondary
to the murder you committed in defence to be free.

These are among the many instances where beliefs or cultures must be
examined. Does this reflect any true religion or culture ? The answer to
this will be an emphatic no. If so, why would this continue to creep in
the society like an angry pandemic virus. The age and era of society
should be way beyond forced marriages. Where dictators can dictate with
violation of country's constitutions, then religion and culture followers
fall a trap at times, then it become their constitutions, their believes,
and their extremist acts. Forced marriages to my own little know-how is
indeed extreme and should be totally discouraged and weeded out completely
from the societies.

Now to the Honorable Judge of that great sitting, i humbly implore on you
to show mercy on young Fatoumatta, who if given a second chance would not
be forced into marriage again, and will therefore not kill a human.
Everyone will bet anything, that this Fatoumatta is a true hater of
slavery. Though the killing is extreme, but how about we look at the
circumstances that lead her to commit the murder. Fatoumatta's hands are
twisted beyond elasticity, and as a result she forced her hand back on the
oppressor to escape the hated forced marriage.

Honorable Judge, where with her confession she is already guilty of the
crime of murder, and then what next ? Lets look at the situation
Fatoumatta is in now. She is completely worn out and frustrated of the
forced marriage, and now she will a subject to societal finger pointing.
Her sexual virginity is completely destroyed and tampered with, and
childhood pride stolen from her in a broad day light. She has been
enslaved at a time when the age of society cannot forgive any for such
heavy crimes. In a small society like the Gambia, where talk and gossip is
like drinking water, still we can see that Fatoumatta's life is at stake.
This situation will even make some men not to approach her even if she
goes free. How about an encouragement to have her undergo counseling and
be the next female activist to run the campaign against forced marriages
for Gambians and the whole world.

I humbly call on all genuine men and women of our time to join Amie Sillah
and Fatoumatta Jahumpha Ceesay, in their move to convince a Judge to have
Fatoumatta free. Lawmakers at the national assembly now need to make a
loud noise, and where the situations needs changes in punishment and
campaign through out the country, then i humbly call for that . It is time
to end it , burry it out completely and have it phased out of geography.

I look forward for the part from the Supreme Islamic Counsel, The Catholic
Churches and that of our national assembly members, who might have drums
and whistles for different agendas than the one at hand. I urge them
dearly to signal the judge to free Fatoumatta on the basis of what she
encountered in life.

Watch out for part two. Mr. Editor, thanks for the space always.



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