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November 23, 2005
Trinidad: Muslim Leader Charged With Terrorism
The leader of Trinidad & Tobago's radical Islamist group, Jamaat al Muslimeen, has been charged yesterday (22 November) with terrorism, states the Jamaica Observer. Earlier, Yasin Abu Bakr (pictured) had been charged with the lesser offences of incitement and sedition, as we reported here.
Bakr was arrested on November 7, following comments he made at his Friday sermon on November 4, in which he threatened "bloodshed and war" if he did not receive enough donations or "zakat".
There have been four bomb blasts in Trinidad since summer, the latest taking place at St James, outside Port of Spain, which happened in mid-October in a nightclub and injured 10 people. Bakr was arrested on suspicion of involvement, but was later released without charge. He subsequently said that he had been "set-up".
On his current offence, of threatening "war", the authorities are prudent to take his threats seriously. He masterminded a coup on the island in 1990, in which twenty four people died. He and 200 of his followers hijacked a television station in their "coup". Despite the deaths, and Bakr and 114 followers of his "congregation" being charged with murder, treason, and other offences, the prime minister at that time, Arthur N.R. Robinson offered Bakr and the Jamaat al Muslimeen members a pardon. Later parliament withdrew the amnesty and the group were prosecuted, but the charges were dismissed upon appeal.
Now, the authorities are taking no chances, as is evidenced by raising his charges to "terrorism". Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicholls stated that Abu Bakr "did knowingly promote the commission of a terrorist act likely to cause the loss of life or serious bodily harm".
Should he be found guilty, Bakr, who has four wives to maintain, could face 25 years in prison. Following his arrest on November 7, army and police arrived at the Jamaat al Muslimeen compound and bulldozed their way in (pictured) and flattened Bakr's office. Inside they found a rifle, a hand grenade and 500 rounds of ammunition.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 23, 2005 8:22 PM
Comments
Yes, charge any moslem whose saying are in line with terrorists. Make no exception.
Posted by: Mytoss at November 23, 2005 10:34 PM
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