Media Release: Plea to this administration to step up efforts to repatriate women and children who are being held in Syria.

Media Release:

Re: Plea to this administration to step up efforts to repatriate women and children who are being held in Syria. 

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on the government to answer the calls from a group of Trinidadian women who has made a plea to this administration to step up efforts to repatriate their families who are being held at a Kurdish-run camp in northern Syria.

In an article published on the 23rd October, 2019 from the Middle East Eye, it stated; “they are fearful they (their families) could be caught in fighting between the Turkish army and Kurdish militias. The women said they feared that “devastating things” could happen to their families, including several children, unless the government of Trinidad and Tobago acted immediately. 

The families mentioned are at the al-Hol refugee camp, which has been rocked by unrest because of recent events. Nearly two weeks ago, Turkey launched an offensive in northern Syria against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), eliciting a strong military response from Syrian government forces. Based on this recent publication, Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on this administration to not ignore the cries of our citizens and to provide assistance as soon as possible. 

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) also notes the conditions of those at the camps, specifically the children who are innocently caught in the midst of this war. Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is also questioning the purpose and lack of intervention of the Nightingale programme which was established to seek out and or encourage repatriations of this nature.

For Immediate Release:

Date: October 24rd, 2019

Umar Abdullah

Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)

Tel: +18683656253 or +18687870765

Media Release: Renewed Call to Shut Down TTT Limited.

Media Release:

Re: Renewed Call to Shut Down TTT Limited. 

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) in referencing its media release dated 21st October, 2019, is renewing its call for the Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to shut the doors of state owned TV station; TTT Limited, if it is the minister of communications under the directive of the Prime Minister, fails to investigate if there are any labour breaches at state owned company, TTT LIMITED.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on TTT LIMITED to account to every deserving tax paying citizen of this country, simply because they are the true owners of this company and they deserve the right to know how their money was spent and is being spent. They deserve the right to be informed of any managerial issues, especially when it comes to the treatment of our countrymen who are the employees of this company.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) has in the past called on other state agencies to account for their failed policies, mismanagement and corrupt practices. We demand that steps be taken to remedy this symptom of failure on the part of this present administration, before its too late, at which time, we'll be forced to accept another loss; a drain on our talents, money and resources.

For Immediate Release:

Date: October 23rd, 2019

Umar Abdullah

Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)

Tel: +18683656253 or +18687870765

Media Release: Shutting Down of TTT Limited.

Media Release:

Re: Shutting Down of TTT Limited. 

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on the Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to shut the doors of state owned TV station; TTT Limited. Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) understands apart from the company operating at a loss, it is compounded by the fact, TTT Limited, is in breach of all labour laws in this country, as they don't pay overtime to workers, rather they utilise the "Compensatory Time Off System" (CTO). This bugs the question; why the move to implement such a draconian policy to employees already experiencing late salary payments, since 2018.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on the Minister of Communications Senator, Donna Cox to clarify this information and state to the country, if TTT is breaking Labour Laws, and show proof to the citizens of this country, that this isn't so. Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is also concerned about a "clique" at the state owned media house who seems to be acting as Judge and Jury. This "clique" of Managers some of whom have no background in media and the creative Industry are also the ones championing draconian policies in the company, much to the distress of workers. Can the Communications minister also clarify this? And by extension the honorable Prime Minister? 

Responding to a letter written by Indera Sagewan, published in the Guardian on Monday, August 28, 2017 under the headline: ‘Another debacle: CNMG to TTT’. The then Minister of Public Administration and Communications; Honourable Maxie Cuffie, Member of Parliament for La Horquetta/Talparo, said "... is not simply a cosmetic name change... the closure of CNMG goes beyond re-branding and restructuring..."

The then Communications Minister Stuart Young in an article written by Camille Hunte published in the Express Newspaper July 6th 2018, said “I will fight hard to make sure jobs are maintained and let us turn this around.”

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) reminds the country that this state enterprise is one which was used as the source of corruption in 2015 which saw huge and exorbitant salaries being paid to former managers of the TV Station. This is the same TTT who has a perrenial problem of changing managers every so often, and a failure to increase viewers or attract viable, sustainable sales to generate revenue. It is clear, by these revelation, TTT, described on its Website as an" "Enterprise providing broadcast, production and transmission services for audiences within Trinidad and Tobago and beyond." has strayed from it's mandate. 

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) in an attempt to address these issues sent messages and made numerous calls to the line Minister, Senator the Honourable Donna Cox, to no avail. Imagine that! The Communications Minister, does not know how to communicate. We are therefore calling on the  the Prime Minister, Dr. The Honourable Keith Christopher Rowley to shut down the and liquidate this "debacle" according to, Indera Sagewan-Alli in 2017.

For Immediate Release:

Date: October 21st, 2019

Umar Abdullah

Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)

Tel: +18683656253 or +18687870765

Media Release: Response to Newsday's Article - "Criminologist: Jail ISIS Moms."dated, Wednesday 16th October 2019, by Newsday's Journalist, Azard Ali.

Media Release:

Re: Response to Newsday's Article -  "Criminologist: Jail ISIS Moms."dated, Wednesday 16th October 2019, by Newsday's Journalist, Azard Ali.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is shocked and amazed with yesterday's, Wednesday 16th October 2019 article by Newsday's Journalist, Azard Ali which headline's read "Criminologist: Jail ISIS Moms." Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is making the revelation, the article is slanderous and misleading. "I didn't say jail. I said investigated. The case I made is that if the govt is to bring back the women and children, some of the women will have to be investigated and face justice in return."

"I'm for repatriation of women and children- but there has to be a reckoning with some of the women who knowingly took their kids to a war zone."

"They're not victims, the kids are, but not the parents, " said Simon Cottee when interviewed today by Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front's) head Umar Abdullah.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) holds the view that absolute care must be taken after the repatriation process is completed, in that mechanisms must be installed to assess and determine the intent of those who have gone and what were the circumstances that would have influenced their decision to leave. In the interest of security and safety for all and the promotion of proper growth and development in achieving the maximum benefit of actions taken, Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) suggests the commissioning of a specialist unit comprising of all stakeholders inclusive of, military, police, the judiciary, government, academia and civil society.

It is quite clear the newsday's editor prostituted the reputation of the Newsday paper for the "Almighty Dollar" in coining the headline in the manner it was worded, when obviously an alternative such as "Concerns for ISIS women when they return" would have drawn just as much attention as did the chosen headline did.

This was a grave compromise of the journalist's values and oath of duty were they testify the belief, that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism. - they further state the belief that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true. - and the belief that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on the Newsday editors to retract this story in like manner it appeared in the public and we call on the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago's, Dr Sheila Rampersad to immediately launch an investigation into the matter. Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) views this as indulging in anti-Islamic sentiment rhetoric in an effort to spew hate and division within the Islamic community.

Link to article: https://newsday.co.tt/2019/10/16/criminologist-jail-isis-moms/

For Immediate Release:
Date: October, 17th 2019

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

Media Release: United Prison Movement, Meeting and Hunger Strike.

Media Release:

Re: United Prison Movement, Meeting and Hunger Strike.

Umar Abdullah for the United Prison Movement: Interview With PSA TV - 2nd October 2019
https://youtu.be/O2FqWvbfSZo

United Prison Movement held its second meeting at The Mandela Hall, Centre of Excellence, 17A Macoya Road, Tunapuna on Wednesday 2nd October 2019. We covered a number of pertinent issues facing the prison, the prisoners and their families. Present at the meeting were family and friends of both remanded and convicted inmates, Attorney at Law Fareed Ali, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, Mohammed and his entourage and His Worship, Magistrate Nikolas Ali.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZdjXWtBYbzDiz69NA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWAemDoyNEW6SpCriTUkuOdwYO6cyYemT

On a separate note, contrary to a report in the Guardian by RAD­HI­CA DE SIL­VA, dated Sunday 6th October 2019. The United Prison Movement was the body responsible for the immediate end to the the five day Hunger Strike and not the prison authorities as was alluded to in the article.

For Immediate Release:
Date: October 7th, 2019

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