“A grenade a gun and ammunition” the headline screamed. This was the Jamaat al Muslimeen’s reality in 2005. A police raid uncovered a cache of weapons within their compound. This was not the peaceful image the Jamaat al Muslimeen projected.
The Jamaat al Muslimeen Community of Muslims is a Sunni Islamist fundamentalist group. It gained prominence in Trinidad and Tobago’s Black Muslim community. Founded by Yassin Abu Bakr after his return from Libya. The Jamaat al Muslimeen attempted a coup d’état in 1990. This made it the only attempted Islamist uprising in the Caribbean and Latin America. Though now focused on Islamic education and community projects. The Jamaat al Muslimeen’s past remains controversial. Accusations range from drug trafficking to murder to terrorism.
In the mid-1980s the Jamaat al Muslimeen launched an anti-drug campaign. They engaged in vigilante justice driving drug dealers out of neighborhoods. They seized weapons and narcotics. This campaign laid the groundwork for later events. Years later in 1990 their actions escalated dramatically. The Jamaat al Muslimeen staged a coup attempt against the government. Over 114 members participated in bomb attacks. They stormed Parliament attacking television and radio stations. The acting Prime Minister was among those taken hostage. Over 24 people lost their lives during the six-day ordeal.
Umar Abdullah a former member expressed regret. He disagreed with surrendering to the military. He had been willing to fight for an Islamic state in Trinidad. Now he advocates for peaceful means. His friend Fareed Mustapha left Trinidad to join the Islamic State. He died fighting in Syria. Imam Nazim Mohammed saw 15 relatives and 91 mosque members leave for Syria. During the brief existence of the Islamic State over 130 Trinidadians left for Syria. This gave Trinidad the highest per capita rate of individuals joining ISIS in the Western Hemisphere.
The Jamaat al Muslimeen had multiple motivations for the coup attempt. Allegations of government corruption and mismanagement were key. Discrimination faced by their community due to land disputes was another factor. The government’s rejection of a medicine shipment from Libya added fuel to the fire. Concerns about the increased military presence near a commune also played a role.
After the failed coup leaders were arrested and charged with treason. The events of 1990 and their aftermath drastically altered Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape. The Jamaat al Muslimeen remains a controversial force. In 2021 the Jamaat al Muslimeen appointed Sadiq Al Razi as its new imam. This came after the death of founder Yasin Abu Bakr. The following year Imam Al Razi announced a shift. The group would not dabble in politics. Instead they would use the anniversary of the coup to pray fast and feed the poor. Over time the Jamaat al Muslimeen has transformed. They now focus on community events and Islamic education. They conduct prayers burials and provide charity. Their mosque runs a school. They maintain a Facebook presence. This reform highlights the Jamaat al Muslimeen’s transition to a more apolitical and socially-focused organization. Yet their past actions including the 1990 coup continue to cast a long shadow. The Jamaat al Muslimeen’s history in Trinidad and Tobago remains a complex and controversial chapter.