Imams Mahi Ouattara and Abdoulaye Koita, influential religious clerics in Mali, were summoned on December 30
and 31, 2024, to the Specialised Center for the Fight against Cybercrime in Bamako.
The double summons of Imams Ouattara and Koita follows a controversy sparked by their sermons concerning the observance of Christian holidays, widely disseminated on social media and provoked strong reactions from religious communities.
During their second hearing on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, a large crowd of their followers gathered in front of the premises of the center to show support for the two clerics. After being heard by the prosecutor Adama Coulibaly, they were allowed to return home.
This case comes at a time when the sermons of Imams Ouattara and Koita are being closely scrutinised. On December 6, 2024, Imam Mahi Ouattara delivered a sermon on truthfulness and hypocrisy, available online. For his part, Imam Abdoulaye Koïta gave a sermon on December 4, 2024 in Aboisso, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Malian authorities, through the Cybercrime Unit, seem to want to regulate religious discourse disseminated on digital platforms, in order to prevent inter-religious tensions and maintain public order.
To date, no official charges have been brought against Imams Ouattara and Koita. However, their summons underscore the authorities’ vigilance in the face of speeches likely to disrupt social cohesion.
The imams have not yet made a public statement regarding their time at the center. Their entourage indicates that they are continuing their usual religious activities, pending possible legal action.
This situation highlights the challenges that Mali faces in regulating religious discourse in the public space, particularly in the digital age where messages can quickly reach a wide audience and provoke diverse reactions.
The authorities call for religious leaders to be responsible in their sermons, in order to preserve social peace and respect between the country’s different religious communities.
MD/Sf/te/fss/as/APA