Media Release: MASAJID SEARCHES DETENTION OF MUSLIMS BY STATE

Media Release:

Re: MASAJID SEARCHES DETENTION OF MUSLIMS BY STATE

The Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is strongly condemning the flagrant and wanton disregard of the state and by extension the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to further oppress and target Muslims of this country; more specifically Muslim communities and Jamaats which have contributed significantly to the population of Islam, the society as a whole and aides in mass charity efforts in this country.

The Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front)  regards the recent searches by Police officers in the following Masajid (Mosques)-Nur e Islam, Munroe Road, Sangre Grande, Bamboo and Laventille jamaats over the last few hours, as juvenile, baseless, and a clear indication of the vendetta and dislike of the state towards Muslims in this country, not to mention the disrespect and abuse meted out to a number of Muslim men from various parts of the country, who the Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front) understands is being detained in a number of several police stations throughout the country for a few days now.

This the Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front) fervently believes is a sour and pathetic attempt by the state to persecute Muslims in this country, and under the guise of “raids and searches” disrupt the Muslim Ummah (community) locally.

The Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front) asks the following questions:

Why were these ad hoc searches conducted to these reputable Masjids?

Explain why their was a so called search for “devices” from these Masjids? And why wasn’t such searches conducted in other denominational or public places of worship?

Why the unconstitutional detainment of Muslim brothers more than 72 hours with no arrest is still on going?

Why is the state persistent on attacking and disrupting the peaceful practice of Islam in his country?

Why wasn’t “searches for devices” conducted in well known hot spots such as Beetham, Sealots etc. ?

And finally,
Why is the state targeting Muslims in this country by disrupting Masjids and Muslims communities by making false claims that there is a plan a foot that Muslims are planning to disrupt Carnival celebrations? Why single out Muslims?

This cowardly and dastardly actions by the state specifically the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) must not be forgotten by Muslim community, and the following questions must be answered. Are Muslims the only group within the society who does not engage in the Carnival revelry? No, so why target Muslims?

Further the Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on head of the TTPS for answers into this persecution attempt and attack on law abiding Muslims in this country.

For Immediate Release:
Date: 8th February 2018

Umar Abdullah
Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)
Tel: +18687870765 or +18683656253