A body of religious leaders in Mali is calling on its followers to reject the new constitution being drawn up under the country’s transitional government that maintains the principle of secularism.

According to the draft document, Secularism is not opposed to religion and beliefs but rather aims to promote and reinforce living together based on tolerance, dialogue and mutual understanding.

But the Mali League of Imams and Scholars for Islamic Solidarity called Tuesday for the removal of the word secularism and for it to be replaced with a multiconfessional state.

The new constitution is supposed to be put to a referendum, originally scheduled for March 19, but the government house is yet to comment on the timetable amid widespread doubts about the date.

The proposal to change Mali’s constitution aims to create an environment to allow the Sahelian nation to return to civilian rule.

The Islamic league therefore called on all patriotic Muslims to vote against the draft constitution in its current form as received by junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita late last month