A top Muslim leader suggested to the Commission of Enquiry into the failed 1990 Muslimeen coup that the uprising could have been prevented if the local Muslim community had engaged Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr in dialogue.
Mohammad K Hosein, Executive director of the Islamic Secretariat of the Caribbean and South America, said he used to have great respect for Abu Bakr, having grown up in the same area as Bakr.
Hosein said Bakr used to conduct programs in the drug areas and used to speak against the use of drugs and was concerned about the poor and dispossessed.
Hosein said the land at Mucurapo Road in Port of Spain had been given to his organisation, then known as the Islamic Missionary Guild, and that when Bakr "come on the scene" the Guild gave him permission to use the land.
Hosein presented a report of a meeting held on November 19, 1987 with the community development minister at the time, Brinsley Samaroo, to try to resolve the land issue. According to the report, Samaroo, wanted to demolish the unauthorised structure at Mucurapo.
Hosein said he was shocked learn of the coup. He admitted that the Guild gave financial assistance to the Muslimeen and provided money for the detainees and their families. However he said the relationship no longer exists, adding that the coup attempt greatly damaged the Islamic cause in the region.
Mohammad K Hosein, Executive director of the Islamic Secretariat of the Caribbean and South America, said he used to have great respect for Abu Bakr, having grown up in the same area as Bakr.
Hosein said Bakr used to conduct programs in the drug areas and used to speak against the use of drugs and was concerned about the poor and dispossessed.
Hosein said the land at Mucurapo Road in Port of Spain had been given to his organisation, then known as the Islamic Missionary Guild, and that when Bakr "come on the scene" the Guild gave him permission to use the land.
Hosein presented a report of a meeting held on November 19, 1987 with the community development minister at the time, Brinsley Samaroo, to try to resolve the land issue. According to the report, Samaroo, wanted to demolish the unauthorised structure at Mucurapo.
Hosein said he was shocked learn of the coup. He admitted that the Guild gave financial assistance to the Muslimeen and provided money for the detainees and their families. However he said the relationship no longer exists, adding that the coup attempt greatly damaged the Islamic cause in the region.
1 comment:
Mr.Hosein's testimony was very interesting to say the least. I thought though that the original express's article seemed to throw a bit of blame of the muslim community.
Coincidentally, i found an interesting piece on it http://youspeakwespeak.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/local-muslims-could-have-prevented-the-coup/
It's really good, expressed what i was thinking.
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