CONGO TOWN, Montserrado – The director of the National Christian Task Force of Liberia, Rev. David Benitoe, has warned politicians not to politicize religions as a way of getting votes ahead of the 2017 general and presidential elections.

His statement was in response to Nimba’s Senator Prince Johnson’s recent introduction of a bill in the Senate to nationalize two Muslim holidays in Liberia – Ramadan and Abraham Day.

According to the bill, no Muslim holidays are currently nationally recognized, which Johnson described as unjust to Liberian Muslims.

But Benitoe has differed with Johnson, describing his bill as a clever attempt to buy public sentiment ahead of the election season.

Speaking in Congo Town at Winners’ Chapel International, Benitoe said if Johnson wants Muslim holidays to be recognized as National holidays in Liberia, he would have to temper with the constitution to achieve his goal.

Benitoe claimed that the constitution of Liberia did not set aside any religion holiday in Liberia, referring to Christmas as a universal holiday which is celebrated by most countries.

“There is no holiday nationalized particular for any religion in this country Liberia,” Benitoe said. “Every holiday in Liberia is proclaimed by the government.”

However, while the constitution is silent on holidays, the Patriotic and Cultural Observances Law does establish December 25 as a holiday “in celebration of Christmas Day.”

Benitoe cautioned citizens not to take the bill seriously because it is a “problem.” However, some Liberian Muslims have praised the bill on Facebook.

For his part, a young Muslim, Mohammed Sheriff, a young preacher at New Hope Mosque, welcomed the bill but said he doubts whether it would be passed.

“If they do it, it will be fine,” he said. Sheriff said Muslims needed the opportunity to celebrate their holidays with pride.

The young preacher added that the bill would allow Muslims working in the government to celebrate without worries.

The proposal for Muslim holidays is one of a few promises Johnson has been making in anticipation of his run for the presidency. He also vowed to resist efforts to make Liberia a Christian state in addition to refusing to expand civil rights for homosexuals.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah