Trinidad: A Muslim organization led by Yasin Abu Bakr; his political role if any, and his relationship with government officials (1988 to February 2000)

No information on Yasin Abu Bakr's political role and nor on his relationship with government officials could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Islam and Islamic Groups (1992) describes the Jamaat al Muslimeen (Society of Muslims) as a "relatively unknown messianic group" within the black African community that was led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, a former policeman and national footballer (244). Doctrinal differences apparently prevented the "black Muslim militants" from winning the support of the Indian Muslim majority (ibid.). According to Islam and Islamic Groups,

Members of the sect were alleged to have had links with US Muslim radicals loyal to Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Black Muslim Nation of Islam organization, and with Muslim militant groups in Iran and Libya. Reports indicated, in particular, that covertly supplied Libyan money and arms had significantly encouraged the [July 1990] take-over (ibid.).

Tensions had long existed between the state and the Jamaat, resulting from the killing of Jamaat members, allegedly by the police, a "government-sanctioned military presence" near a Jamaat "commune" and the government's refusal to accept from the Jamaat a Libyan shipment of medical supplies (Islam and Islamic Groups 1992, 244). A "long-standing conflict" revolved around the Jamaat religious "commune" (ibid.), built on land the government claimed the Jamaat occupied illegally, whereas the Jamaat claimed the government of former Prime Minister Eric Williams had given it to them (Caribbean and Central American Report 31 Mar. 1998, 3; IPS 20 Mar. 1998). The government claimed the commune "harboured criminals" as 34 people had been arrested on a variety of charges in 1988 (Islam and Islamic Groups 1992, 244). In early July 1990 the government won a court ruling permitting it to evict the Jamaat (ibid.).

On 27 July 1990 between 114 and 150 armed members of the Jamaat attempted to overthrow Prime Minister Arthur Robinson's government in order to establish an Islamic republic (Islam and Islamic Groups 1992, 244). The apparent cause of the attempted coup was the government's decision to spend TT$500,000 on a monument to a former civil servant who had fought against corruption, at a time when the IMF had imposed "severe austerity measures" that had "crippling effects" on the lives of the common man (ibid.). The Jamaat took over the parliament building in Port of Spain, held about 45 people hostage, including the prime minister, Cabinet members and MPs, "destroyed" police headquarters, and occupied the state-owned television station (ibid.; IPS 20 Mar. 1998). Thirty-seven police men died (Islam and Islamic Groups 1992, 244). The coup failed and the militants surrendered on 1 August 1990 after allegedly forcing the president to promise to pardon them (ibid.). However, the government began prosecuting the 114 Jamaat members for treason and murder (Patterns of Global Terrorism 1990 30 Apr. 1991). Although Trinidadian government lawyers argued that the pardons were invalid because they were given under duress, the Privy Council in London upheld the legal status of the pardons in December 1991 (Islam and Islamic Groups 1992, 245). In July 1992 the Court of Appeal upheld the government amnesty given during the crisis and all 114 Jamaat members jailed since the coup were released (Background Notes: Trinidad and Tobago Mar. 1998). The government appealed the ruling (ibid.),

Islam and Islamic Groups states that the abortive coup "intensified ill feelings towards black Muslims, [and] triggered reprisals including the shooting of Bakr's step-son in unclear circumstances during a police raid on Bakr's house in August 1990 (1992, 245).

Country Reports 1995 stated that following the 20 June 1995 assassination of former-Attorney General Selwyn Richardson, two low-level Jamaat members who had participated in the July 1990 coup were murdered the next day (Mar. 1996). No arrests nor suspects were identified, despite speculation of a connection between the crimes (ibid.). On 30 August 1995 unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed another low-level Jamaat member who had participated in the July 1990 coup, while another key Jamaat leader escaped the attack (Mar. 1996). Country Reports 1995 stated that "persistent rumours" pointed to possible police involvement in the attack and killing, although senior police officials denied involvement (ibid.).

In April 1996, IFEX reported that the managing director of the Trinidad Guardian had informed the newspaper's editors that he was being pressured to meet three demands: fire a journalist for a critical report she wrote on the then-Attorney General  Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj (who acted as the lawyer for the July 1990 coup members of the Jamaat), that all editorial copies of the paper be approved by the publishers, and that the paper not report anything about the Jamaat (4 Apr. 1996).

In mid-August 1996 rumours spread that the Jamaat had threatened to take "action" and had "launched an uprising" against the government of Prime Minister Basdeo Panday for not keeping a promise to compensate them for their losses suffered during the July 1990 coup-attempt (Caribbean and Central American Report 3 Oct. 1996, 3). Although the government reportedly dismissed these rumours, security in the capital was increased, especially around the parliament building (ibid.).

In mid-March 1998 the government and the Jamaat were in dispute again over the Jamaat commune, which houses a primary and secondary school, a mosque, a dental clinic and other facilities (IPS 20 Mar. 1998; Caribbean and Central American Report 31 Mar. 1998, 7). National Security Minister Joseph Theodore, who helped put down the  July 1990 coup, went on TV and reportedly described the Jamaat as a "violent fringe group with the blood of many people on their hands" (IPS 20 Mar. 1998; Caribbean and Central American Report 31 Mar. 1998, 7). After the Jamaat refused a compromise offer from the Port of Spain city council, the government eventually decided to fence off the land (ibid.; IPS 20 Mar. 1998).

The Jamaat "claims to represent the 70,000-odd Muslims among Trinidad's 1.3m population, and also to give shelter to social outcasts of all kinds" (Caribbean and Central American Report 31 Mar. 1998, 7). March 1998 sources report however, that the Jamaat remains a controversial group, despite the fact that many original members have left for one reason or another (ibid.; IPS 20 Mar. 1998). According to the National Security Minister, since the July 1990 coup, many Jamaat members have been arrested, tried and convicted of serious criminal acts, including drug-related activities (ibid.). According to observers reported in a March 1998 IPS article, many new members of the Jamaat include known criminals and dissidents (20 Mar. 1998). Jamaat members have reportedly also been used by citizens to "collect debts and provide security for business persons. They have even worked as private investigators to track down missing vehicles and persons" (ibid.).

The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 states that

The Government is known to monitor closely only one religiously affiliated group, a radical Muslim organization called the Jamaat al Muslimeen, some members of which attempted a coup in 1990. The Government's surveillance has focused on the group's repeated attempts to seize control of state-owned property adjoining its central mosque and on actions intended to incite revolt.

In July 1999 Yasin Abu Bakr remained the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen (Trinidad Express 18 July 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999. 9 September 1999. US Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Background Notes: Trinidad and Tobago. US Department of State. [Accessed 24 Feb. 2000]

Caribbean and Central America Report [London]. 31 March 1998."Trinidad & Tobago: Religion & Politics: Dispute Flares Up Over Jamaat Land."

_____. 3 October 1996. "Trinidad & Tobago: Coup Rumours."

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. March 1996. US Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

IFEX. 4 April 1996. Alert Update: Series of Developments Regarding Harassment of 'Trinidad Guardian' Journalists. [Accessed 24 Feb. 2000]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 20 March 1998. "Politics: Trinidad And Tobago: Govt. Keeps Watchful Eye on Muslim Group." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2000]

Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide. 1992. Edited by Farzana Sheikh. Essex: Longman Group.

Patterns of Global Terrorism 1990. 30 April 1991. United States Department of State. [Accessed 24 Feb. 2000]

Trinidad Express. 18 July 1999. Natasha Coker. "Bakr: Time Heals All Wounds." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2000]

_____. 15 March 1998. Ucill Cambridge. "Forces Were At the Ready." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2000]

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report 1998. 1998.

Caribbean and Central American Report [London]. Monthly. January 1993-January 2000.

The Europa World Year Book 1999. 1999.

Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups, and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements. 1996.

IRB Databases.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1999. December 1998.

Journal Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs. Bi-yearly. July 1991-July 1994.

Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs [Cambridge, Mass.]. Quarterly. January 1996- October 1999.

Patterns of Global Terrorism. Yearly. April 1992, April 1993, April 1994, April 1995, 30 April 1996, 30 April 1997, April 1998, April 1999. (US Department of State).

Internet sites, including:

Federation of American Scientists.

Government of Trinidad and Tobago

Search engines, including: