Gambians, typically, don’t do things in moderation. No, we don’t do things by halves; no limits, no boundaries. We are a bunch of serial copycats who just jump on issues without a thorough knowledge of it. 

The #Metoo Movement Gambian chapter started off on a wrong footing by exposing young women, who they claimed were raped, to such an intense media scrutiny without preparing them psychologically and mentally to withstand whatever might come their way.

It was an opportunity seized by the jumped-up attention seekers to claim their 15 minutes of fame. What our new rape activists (aka Fangbula kula nkol) don’t know is that not all rape cases will be successfully prosecuted in court. Some cases will collapse, not because it didn’t happen but due to the lack of sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. Will this not leave the accuser in a vulnerable position? What if the accused countersues? What about the long-term aftereffect of the court case regardless of the outcome? These plus a host of other things should be factored in first before parading these girls on non-contractual media duties.

Courts deal with evidence not emotions, and I cannot overemphasize the importance of evidence in a criminal trial. 

Let these emotionally wrecked, men hating, so-called feminists take a back seat and let the real victims deal with their cases with professionals in the field. 

These attention seeking rape activists are now resorting to emotionally blackmailing anyone who doesn’t buy into their idiocy. They would tell you that “it could happen to your sister, niece, or daughter”, but it never occurred to them that they themselves, their nephews or uncles could be a victim of a false rape allegation. 

The saddest part is, people you think ought to know apparently did not know the difference between rape and sexual violence/assault. I saw some desperately attempted to qualify Facebook chats as rape. Ignorance is probably our biggest problem right now. 

According to the Cambridge online dictionary, a rape is “to force someone to have sex when they are unwilling, using violence or threatening behaviour”. So, next time before you go about accusing anyone of rape make sure your ordeal fits the above description. 

In the wake of the Toufah rape allegation, some loose women who willingly had sex in the past to get a job, promotion or material are also now claiming been raped. These women’s consciences have been tormented for years for their indecency and are now shamelessly alleging rape.

Offering sex for payment is not rape but prostitution. Payment can be in cash or kind.

Saul Sarr

UK