Liberia’s Chief Imam, Ali Krayee, has criticized the government of Liberia for what he calls a longstanding refusal to declare ‘Eid’ as a national holiday, describing it as an ongoing injustice and a reflection of systemic discrimination against Muslims in the country.
The message, issued on Tuesday, July 30, 2025, from the Office of the Chief Imam and widely circulated by Liberia Islamic Media, comes on the heels of a National Day of Prayer declared by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
While Muslims across Liberia joined fellow citizens in praying for the nation, Imam Krayee said many within the Muslim community felt “deeply unhappy” about the glaring contradiction between symbolic gestures and real inclusion.
“With the declaration of today’s holiday, it’s now apparent that a holiday can be declared for almost anything, anyhow, and for any reason, as long as it is not Islam,” Krayee wrote.
Imam Krayee acknowledged and appreciated the progress the Muslim community has seen in recent years, including successful Hajj pilgrimages and appointments to high-ranking positions-but noted that the single most important issue for Liberian Muslims continues to be ignored: official recognition of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as national holidays.
A Deep-Rooted Struggle
Highlighting his own heritage as a natural-born Liberian from Grand Gedeh County, the Chief Imam denounced suggestions that Muslims are outsiders or less deserving of full rights.
He recounted the insult of being told to “go to Guinea” despite his family’s long-standing service to Liberia, calling it a “chronic problem” rooted in ignorance and religious prejudice.
“The struggle for Muslim rights in Liberia started decades ago. Though politicians have always said that they consider all Liberians to be equal, they know it’s merely a political statement,” he stated.
The Chief Imam also pointed to Liberia’s recent 178th Independence Day celebrations as a stark reminder that the country continues to promote a false narrative of unity, while Muslims still have to beg school authorities to excuse their children on Eid.
Calls for Strategic Action
Imam Krayee, among other things emphasized that Muslims in Liberia have remained peaceful and patient for generations, a choice rooted in Islamic teachings and love for the country.
However, he made clear that the time has come for decisive, organized action.
“We must act, and act decisively in order to spare our grand and great-grandchildren the humiliating nightmare of de facto second-class citizenship,” he declared.
In the weeks and months ahead, he said, strategic meetings will be held with Muslim leaders, civil society actors, and international partners to chart a clear course forward.
While assuring the public and international community of the Muslim community’s continued commitment to peace, he underscored that there will be “neither pause nor turning back” in the campaign for equal rights.
Quoting from the Qur’an (3:186), he reminded Muslims to remain steadfast in the face of adversity:
“…You will certainly hear many painful things from those who were given the book before you and from the polytheists. But if you are patient and God-fearing, that will be a decisive factor in all affairs.”
As the national conversation on equality and inclusion deepens, Imam Krayee’s statement is expected to further energize calls for policy reform, particularly around religious holidays and minority rights.
