Preface

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At this juncture we requested the respondent- Baba to bring two witness.(1)
Idriss Jammeh and (2) Karamo Fofana to testify before this panel as to the
existence of a valid and subsisting marriage in Islamic Law before her baptisation.
On this adjourned date 10-5-11 the two witnesses appeared in court and we
took the first witness Idriss Jammeh. Adult; Businessman of Bonto village. He
promised to tell the truth.
Idris Jammeh said the marriage between Silva (Isatou) the appellant and
Baba Dembajang was properly contracted according to Islamic Rights. When
asked about the dowry he said D325 was paid to Isatou/Silva as dowry another
D25 was paid to the Imam who tied the marriage. Idris Jammeh the witness said he
was a guardian of Silva at the marriage. He said there were many witnesses but
could not remember how many.
The first witness said in their tradition since the would-be husband and the
would-be wife came to an agreement and witnesses were there with sadaq we
simply asked the Imam to pray for the marriage contract and that was what
happened. The marriage took place in my compound in Bundung. Silva/Isatou
herself gave me the authority to execute the marriage contract as her guardian in
my compound but I cannot remember when. We asked Baba whether he agreed
with the testimony of this witness and he said yes.
We asked Isatou/Silva on this testimony and she said she did not agree with
what the witness said. She said she was not given any money and I was not aware.
We asked the first witness Idriss who he gave the dowry/sadaq to. He said he gave
Silva in Baba`s house. The witness said Mariama Bajinka and Muktar Jameh were
all witnesses in the marriage contract.
Finally this witness said he came to know Isatou/Silva when we worked with
her at Siffo Farms Bonto for six months with Lebanese. When she converted to