This is the second time the imam has faced legal action for controversial statements.
Traoré was taken into custody on Tuesday, September 10, following a sermon on Friday, September 6, in which he attacked military personnel and female athletes, particularly basketball players. He denounced women’s attire, such as leggings, as incompatible with Islamic values.
The imam’s comments sparked outrage among women’s rights organizations, who viewed them as a direct attack on women’s rights to participate fully in society. Civil society groups called for sanctions against Traoré, and several organizations are preparing formal complaints for incitement to hatred and discrimination.
This is not the first time Traoré has faced legal consequences for his controversial remarks. In March, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with 16 months suspended, for disturbing the peace and insulting the authorities. That sentence followed a sermon criticizing the government’s handling of the country’s energy crisis.
The imam’s arrest has reignited the debate on freedom of religious expression in Mali, particularly when it affects women’s rights. The Malian authorities will now have to decide whether to take further legal action against Traoré for his recent comments.
MD/ac/sf/lb/abj/APA