Media Release: Amidst this COVID 19 PANDEMIC, Remember our Citizens Still Trapped in Syria and Iraq; Their Present Status: Stateless.

Media Release:

Re: Amidst this COVID 19 PANDEMIC, Remember our Citizens Still Trapped in Syria and Iraq; Their Present Status: Stateless.

In an article entitled "THE GREAT ESCAPE", authored by Anna Ramdass, and published in the Trinidad's Express, dated 22nd March 2020. It laments the horrendous journey of one of our nationals; Ijanaya Jacob-Brown, daughter of journalist and educator Debbie Jacob, in returning home amidst the COVID 19 Crisis. Ijanaya Jacob-Brown is quoted as saying:

“I couldn’t believe the lack of humanity Kenya Airways staff showed throughout this traumatizing process. They did not care what my situation was and was obscenely hostile. I cannot express the feeling of claustrophobia, panic, and stress I have experienced the past few days and will continue to feel until I arrive in my country. At least I am heading home to wait out this madness, this is a humanitarian mess of epic proportions and it is clear the world does not know how to handle this.”

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) prays that Ijanaya Jacob-Brown arrives safely home and is reunited with her family after her incubation period. Hers was a very traumatic ordeal and we can't help but wonder what others are going through especially those who are in worse situations.

One such people are our nationals who are still trapped in concentration camps across Syria and Iraq. These; our Citizens have been denied since 2017 long before this pandemic. And with the government's announcement to bring an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act in order to facilitate the return of these nationals, it seeks to delay the process of repatriation even further. Now with the restrictions on travel and travel bands leaves one to wonder what is going to become of our citizens who have been sufferings under very inhumane conditions, who are being beaten on a daily basis, who are being tortured and whose children are being snatched away and made into child soldiers. We sympathize with Ijanaya and the traumatic ordeal she has had to endure, at least with a Trinidad passport in her hands she knows she'll be home and reunited with her mother and family. What about those in Syria and Iraq who have been rendered Stateless by our government? Who has no idea and no hope of returning home?

Jacob's mom was reported to have said: “I’ve been very worried because she had to go through a lot of places to try and get back...all of a sudden you realize how many people, not just her but how many people are stranded and desperately trying to get home...”

“It’s scary and it’s heartbreaking and I assume that everybody feels like her..."

"... Desperately trying to get back home..." Imagine how desperate our nationals are who are trapped in Syria and Iraq...

“It’s scary and it’s heartbreaking..." Yes, indeed it is...

Considering our present circumstances, this is not a call for our government to repatriate our Citizens from Syria and Iraq now. But rather it's a call for our government to not forget about them and to do what they must to comfort them and to give them hope. This government needs to recognize and accept the many failures and inapt positions it has taken over their period of governance.

Amidst this COVID 19 EPIDEMIC. Just as how this Rowley administration was wrong when they didn't see it important to cancel the Carnival celebration even though they boosted being prepared since the end of January 2020. So too they were wrong not to repatriate our Citizens.

Just as how this Rowley-led government was wrong when they failed to issue a traveling band in February before the Carnival celebrations; which should have been canceled. So too they were wrong not to repatriate our Citizens.

Just as how this Rowley-led PNM administration is failing to see the prudence of increasing the incubation period from 14 days to 21 days, So too they have failed to see the importance of repatriating our Citizens before it's too late.

In the words of, Ijanaya Jacob-Brown: Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is saying the same about our nationals trapped in those concentration camps: “We can’t believe the lack of humanity the government of Trinidad and Tobago has shown throughout this traumatizing process. This government don't care what their situation is like, our government is obscenely hostile. We cannot but express the feeling of claustrophobia, panic and stress these people are experiencing since 2017 and will continue to feel until they return home. Unlike Ijanaya, they are not heading home anytime soon. This is a humanitarian mess of epic proportions and it is clear this government simply does not care.”

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) reiterates its commitment to supporting the government in all of its positive initiatives. We encourage and advise that they should try their endeavor best to be proactive not just in this current situation but in all such situations that relate to the best interest of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

For Immediate Release:
Date: March, 25th 2020

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