Summons for the demolition of the Al QUDS mosque in Niarry Tally: users plead for the preservation of their place of worship

Users and residents of the Masjid QUDS mosque in Niarry Tally are pleading for the preservation of their place of worship after a summons received from the town hall to demolish this place this Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Ordered to abandon their mosque which, according to a notification received from the town hall of Grand-Dakar, the users organized this Friday, September 18, 2026, a press conference to denounce this act which they consider unfair.

“We have been attending the mosque since we were little and here we only teach Islam and Sunnah, nothing contradictory with religion. We are only propagating the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH). Many people come here, especially children, to learn their religion. This must be a source of pride for the population,” lamented Abdou Khadre Signaté, one of the imams of the Masjid QUDS mosque in Niarry Tally.

According to this young imam, they teach civics in this place and the places are well maintained. Moreover, he says their ambition is nothing other than teaching, educating young people and raising awareness.

“We are doing nothing other than that, despite the stigma to move the mosque. For us only religion can help people to be on the Right Path. Our only heartfelt cry is that the mosque be left there so that we can continue our mission which is so noble. The YOG has nothing to do with the location of the mosque. So, it’s just an excuse,” he added.

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In reality, according to users, this mosque has existed for more than 50 years and has participated in the religious training of many generations of this locality.

“Mayor Mamadou Diop at the time of Abdou Diouf let us settle here. At first we only had mats and we prayed in the sun and rain. And it was gradually that we set up a base. It was the prefect who asked us to settle there. The Police ordered us not to build the mosque, which is why we stopped the work and the construction stopped at this level. We surrounded the rest of the mosque with grays and tarpaulins,” added imam Omar Touré.

For the latter, it is unacceptable that a place of worship be removed to install entertainment spaces.

“As Muslims this is intolerable. I contacted the person in charge of religious affairs at Dakar town hall but he told us that they are not aware of this matter and are not concerned. We are not stopping them from carrying out their projects but at least letting them continue our activities. Our only goal is to save our place of worship,” he said.

MP Seynabou Yacine Samb provides her support

Present on this occasion to support this cause which she considers noble, the deputy Seynabou Yacine Samb, native of Niarry Tally testifies that it is this mosque which trained them. Moreover, she points out, her little sister’s marriage was sealed here, more than 30 years ago.

“We are all Senegalese and I cannot understand how we can prohibit the construction of a mosque where we train young people, particularly during a period when we are talking about a crisis of values. Even if it’s for the YOG I don’t think it stops people from practicing their religion,” she lamented.

“I call on the mayor to avoid any source of frustration and popular uprising. We are brothers and sisters despite our religious differences. And the destruction of this mosque does not honor the image of Senegal. It is a religious heritage,” concluded the parliamentarian.

Mariama DIEME