By Emmanuel Mbowa
Freetown, 22nd May, 2026 – The Muslim Organisation for Rights Advocacy and Justice (MORAJ) has welcomed the Ministry of Social Welfare’s statement disowning the “Draft Policy on Religious Tolerance and Practice” circulating online, while calling for strict legal safeguards in any future religious framework.
In a press statement dated 21st May, 2026, MORAJ said it received “with satisfaction” the Ministry’s press release dated 12th May and subsequent media engagements clarifying that the document is not official government policy, as the draft bears no signature, logo, or endorsement and should be disregarded.
The Ministry stated that any future policy will be developed through ongoing national consultations led by the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, stating that with no framework finalized without “full and meaningful consultation with all stakeholders.”
MORAJ commended the Ministry for “transparent and timely clarification,” reassured Muslims and all Sierra Leoneans that religious freedom under the 1991 Constitution remains protected.
However, the organization outlined several legal and procedural conditions for any future framework. “Any regulation that should have the force of law must be grounded in the Constitutional and Statutory Instruments Act No. 6 of 1999 and must be fully consistent with Chapter III of the 1991 Constitution which, inter alia, guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms. The circulated document made no reference to this legal basis and that flaw must not be repeated.”
The organization called on the Ministry to publish a roadmap for the consultative process, stating that it should include dates for regional and national consultations, a deadline for the first draft of any proposed framework, and a minimum 30-day public comment period after release.
MORAJ stated that any registration of religious institutions must be “purely administrative” for legal personality, property ownership, or tax exemption. “It must be voluntary rather than mandatory for worship and it must be limited to institutions and not extended to individual imams or clerics.”
The group insisted a future framework be developed by a multi-faith technical committee, which should include Inter-Religious Council nominees from Muslim and Christian communities, qualified Islamic scholars, Christian theologians and church leaders, constitutional and human rights experts, while also rejected “singular authorship” as seen in the disowned draft.
MORAJ further stated any framework must separate religious obligations from cultural practices. “For Muslims, Islamic principles are supreme over local customs,” the statement read. It noted that no Muslim should be compelled to accept cultural practices, such as secret society rites, that conflict with their faith.
The organization demanded that provisions on “oversight” and “monitoring” of religious activities in the disowned draft be removed from future proposals, citing concerns over state surveillance.
MORAJ maintained it recognised the Inter-Religious Council’s competence to lead consultations and offered its cooperation. However, it stressed that any expanded mandate for the Council must be agreed upon by all faiths and not imposed by the State.
The group urged the Ministry to publish dates, venues, and modalities for nationwide engagement. “The Government should publish a consultation roadmap including dates, venues, and modalities for nationwide engagement.”
MORAJ reaffirmed its commitment to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, stating it would engage the Government and the Inter-Religious Council to ensure any policy upholds constitutional freedoms, respects Islamic principles, and avoids state overreach.
MORAJ called on all Muslim organizations, civil societies, and citizens to remain vigilant and participate in the consultative process once timelines are announced.
