A number of Muslim organizations in Trinidad & Tobago, representing various communities, have issued press statements on the denial of basic human rights to Palestinians and the disproportionate violence against them. Prayers were directed to God, the TT Government, the US President and the United Nations for a peaceful solution to the dehumanization and marginalization of the Palestinians. Historically, the TT government has been silent on the Palestine issue, apart from standing behind the wall of diplomacy to appease liberals:
- “Trinidad AND Tobago‘s policy has always been to support the two states policy which means unwavering recognition of the State of Israel with secure territorial borders as well as the creation of a Palestinian State. “It is in this context that all negotiations regarding the future of Jerusalem arise.”
TT Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses gave this explanation in December 2017 when asked about T&T’s abstention from voting on the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the status of Jerusalem. TT is on record for purchasing technology from Israel to assist in Homeland Security.
Evangelism has a large following in the TT. Evangelicals prop up Israel to hasten the apocalypse, while Israelis (who obviously don’t believe in Christian eschatology) are happy to poke fun at the evangelical community and the milk that supports tourist dollars and political power. How much does this affect the PNM’s capacity to speak out at a time of such blatant abuse of the human rights of the Palestinian civilian population and Israel’s continued colonization of Palestine?
PNM Senator Imam Sheraz Ali (appointed in April 2021 to replace the late Franklin Khan) has been silent on the matter and it seems he is falling in line. His appointment clearly seems to influence the Muslim vote bank in the San Juan / Barataria constituency, while remaining powerless to effect any change in government policy. Like his many Muslim predecessors within the PNM. The Prime Minister of TT has been deaf to the pleas of the Muslim Communities of TT, not even a word of compassion or empathy to acknowledge the psychic pain that a significant section of citizens of TT feel for the suffering of other human beings being oppressed in their homeland. theirs. . Public diplomacy requires no less, silence is cooperation.
Majlis of Trinidad and Tobago (Council of Scholars of TT)
This organization includes the oldest scholars of Islam in TT, among them are Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed, Sheikh Munaf Mohammed, Mufti Asrar ul Haque, Maulana Kavir Mohammed, Maulana Azhar Ali, Maulana Siddiq Ahmad Nasir, Dr. Musa Muhammad, Meulana Atif Majid, Meulana Junaid Ahmed
Statement of the Majlis of Trinidad & Tobago (Council of Scholars of TT).
Anjuman Sunnetul Jamaat Association (ASJA)
ASJA remains the organization with the largest footprint on the ground in TT. Most of the mosques, primary schools and Muslim colleges are under its legal governance. ASJA President Haji Yacoob Ali and Secretary Rahimool Hosein issued two press statements.
Press statement of the Anjuman Sunnetul Jamaat Association (ASJA) 1
Press statement of the Anjuman Sunnetul Jamaat Association (ASJA) 2
Trinidad Muslim League (TML)
TML, founded in 1947, is the third oldest Muslim body in TT. TML addressed the Prime Minister of TT with a direct appeal “Dear Prime Minister, we ask you… to express the government’s disapproval of the current situation in Palestine. An immediate end to the bombing of the people of Palestine and the rockets from Gaza.”
Statement of the Muslim League of Trinidad
Muslim Round Table Group (MRTG)
In a press release, Hafeez Khan, Coordinator, lists the MRTG Organizations as follows: Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Institute (ASWJI), Balmain/Balmain Mosque Board, Foundation for Institutional Services, Care and Learning (FISCAL), Foundation of Islamic Aid, Support and Training (FIRST), Islamic Da’wah Movement (IDM), Islamic Ladies Social and Cultural Association (ILSCA), Islamic Resource Association (IRS), House of Medina (House of Medina), National Organization of Muslim Women (NMWOTT), San Fernando Jama Masjid, Takaaful T&T Friendly Society, The Ahmadiya Muslim Community of Trinidad and Tobago, Tobago-Masjid al Tawbah, Trinidad Muslim League Inc. (TML Inc.) and Takveeatul Islamic Association (TIA).
Statement of the Muslim Round Table Group (MRTG).
Islamic Dave Movement (IDM)
The IDM is the successor to the Islamic Trust or “The Trust” which played a leading role in the 1970s and early 1980s in the revival of Islamic education and training in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region. This revival was characterized by: the establishment of the library and bookstore, the publication of the monthly magazine, The Muslim Standard selling Islamic literature, learning Arabic and reciting the Qur’an, Islamic study circles, classes, courses and youth camps, etc.
Dave Islamic Movement Statement
Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen (JaM)
Jamaat al Muslimeen was founded in 1982 by Yasin Abu Bakr, a former policeman and convert to Islam, and set up a compound on Street No. 1 Mucurapo in Port of Spain, on land owned by the Port of Spain City Corporation. Jamaat al Muslimeen failed in its bid to overthrow the government of Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, July 27, 1990.
Newsday reported that JaM at a media event indicated that a country as small as Trinidad and Tobago should not wait for the US and UK to make the first move before cutting ties with Israel, says Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader , Yassin Abu Bakr. Bakr said it is persuasive that the Prime Minister, as the country’s leader and chairman of Caricom, has not addressed the issue, as St. Vincent and the Grenadines did a week ago. St. Vincent condemned “the military aggression of the State of Israel against the State of Palestine.”
The article was updated on 30 May 2021 to include the TML statement.
