Letter To His Excellency, the Ambassador of the French Republic to Trinidad and Tobago.

29 January 2010



Re: His Excellency, the Ambassador of the French Republic to Trinidad and Tobago.




Dear Honourable Ambassador;


In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.


“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyûbihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” (Quran 24:31).


If ever you want to destroy a people, you first take away their culture and their way of life.


The recommendation by your President and his administration to partially ban the wearing of veils that cover the face - including the Burqa - came as no surprise for we are told by our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) “that a time would come when the whole world would gather around to plan the destruction of the Muslims as if they were gathered around a table to take part in a meal".


It is evidently clear that the President of France and the entire democratic world is bent on destroying Islam and Muslims. It appears as though when the Caliph al-Mu'tasim commanded and deployed a massive army to retaliate against the Romans who at the time invaded Malatya, in honour of a Muslim sister who cried out "Wa Mo'atasimah" which translates to "O Mu'tasim", after being captured and unveiled by the Romans has not taught the democratic world any lesson when it comes to our Muslim Sisters... or has your Prime Minister forgotten where in the 1700s an RC Bishop banned the eating of potatoes calling it food of the soulless infidels - potatoes which were being imported at that time from the Andes in Peru . The Bishop's order lead to widespread starvation and eventually the French Revolution.


The actions of your President will inevitably set a precedent for the whole of the democratic world, simultaneously throwing open the doors of compromise to those Muslim Brothers and Sisters who are not prepared to stand firm on this issue. This would however weaken our resolve and so would lead to the eventual striping of all our religious practices.


I am yet to see the rationale behind your President’s thinking compounded with the fact that France already has a law against Muslim girls wearing headscarves in state schools.


Sarkozy said the issue is one of a woman's freedom and dignity, and did not have to do with religion; Woman’s freedom and dignity? By whose standard? Surely he is not speaking on behalf of the Muslims?


People all over the world and even in France are allowed to practice their culture even if these cultures negatively affect society. What’s wrong or rather what negative effect do these women have on society? Which by the way forces us to wonder why a partial ban? Wouldn’t your society be exposed to the same ‘perceived threat’ on the streets and other public places? Or is it that Sarkozy is just testing the waters to see the response of the Muslim world in determining how far he can take this?


Your President have done nothing more than fan the flames of discord between the Muslims and the Democratic world.


Our message to your President is: you may ban the wearing of the veils that cover the face - including the Burqa and even destroy all the Quran in the world but he will never be able to destroy the pure heart of a believer.


He that fuels us is Allah through the Quran and the way of our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). This course of action will serve your President no good as he would seek to harm none other than his own citizens and his country.


Honourable Ambassador you have a responsibility to communicate our concerns to your President. Your Embassy is a reflection and a pure representative of your country and by extension a representative of the views of your President and his administration. What affects my Muslim Brothers and Sisters there in France would affect us Muslims here as well. Consequently, in answering the cries of our Muslim Sisters, our first line of communication would obviously be you and neither I nor my organisation is prepared to stand down until you address our concerns on behalf of your government.


I would wish at this time you address the Muslim community of this Twin Island State of ours and thoroughly explain your government’s position on Islam and Muslims as it relates to France. Let us know where you stand on this issue as this would obviously affect our relationship. Should we see this as an error on the part of your Prime Minister and a total misrepresentation of your views? Or is this really a declaration of war against Islam and Muslims by your country?


Yours respectfully,
Umar Abdullah


Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)




CC: Paula Gopee-Scoon; Minister of Foreign Affairs Trinidad and Tobago