“You Have No Right to Insult, Mock, or Caricature an Opposition Leader or the President”—Dr. Alieu Gibba

Dr. Alieu Gibba, UTG Lecturer

By Seedy Jobe

Dr. Alieu Gibba, a former senior lecturer at the University of The Gambia (UTG), has called on Gambians to exercise restraint in their words and conduct as the country moves toward the 2026 presidential election.

In a statement, Dr. Gibba emphasized the importance of responsible speech, particularly within the context of political discourse and religious values. He noted that freedom of expression must be exercised with discipline and moral guidance.

“As a Muslim, you are not given the freedom to speak anyhow, anywhere, and to anyone as you wish. Your words and actions should be well defined and guided by the principles of Islam,” he stated.

Dr. Gibba cautioned against the use of insults, mockery, and caricatures in politics, stressing that such conduct undermines respect and social cohesion.

“You have no right to insult, mock, or caricature an opposition leader or the president. These leaders must be respected and treated with dignity, like the way we respect and treat our parents.”

He further urged political leaders to set a positive example by refraining from insulting, mocking, or ridiculing others in the presence of their supporters during campaigns and public gatherings.
Dr. Gibba warned of the moral consequences of such behavior, particularly from an Islamic perspective.

“If some people are not careful, they could be resurrected without good deeds because all their good deeds could be given to those they have insulted, beaten, caricatured, mocked, backbitten, slandered, lied upon, etc., in the name of politics, activism, and freedom of speech and expression,” he cautioned.

Calling for civility in political engagement, Dr. Gibba urged Gambians to conduct politics in a mature and respectful manner. “Do your politicking in a decent way and mind your words and actions,” reminding them that “we live in an internet age, and anything you say or do will be kept for centuries and replayed for the subsequent generations”, he concluded.