Preface

2
PREFACE
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Cadi Appeals Panel, which is a Panel vested with jurisdiction to hear appeals
purely based on Sharia matters in the Gambia, is a creation of section 137A (1) of
the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia. Appeals lie to it from decisions of the Cadi
Courts and the District Tribunals of the Gambia in accordance with section 137 A
(6) of the same Constitution.
The Panel, shall be comprised of a Chairperson and not less than four other
members and for the purpose of hearing appeals its quorum shall be constituted by
at least three members of the Panel in accordance with sections 137A(1) and 137A
(2) of the Constitution respectively.
Jurisdiction wise, the Panel, by section 137A (6) of the Constitution is only
allowed to hear appeals from judgements of the Cadi Courts on matters relating to
marriage, divorce and inheritance and from the decisions of the District Tribunals
where Sharia Law is involved.
However, section 7 of the Mohammedan Law Recognition Act Cap 6:04
Laws of the Gambia, which has not been expressly repealed by any law in the
Gambia provides that, Mohammedan Courts (now Cadi Courts and Cadi Appeals
Panel) can entertain causes and matters, contentious or un-contentious, between or
exclusively affecting Mohammedan Africans relating to Civil status, Marriage,
Succession, Donations, Testaments and Guardianship.