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alexk
Guest
Trinidad-born Isis “soldier” Shane Crawford’s public support of the Islamic State (Isis) and local Muslim leader Umar Abdullah’s revelation that he once supported Isis ideology were among factors which prompted strengthening of T&Ts anti-terrorism law.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi cited both situations yesterday in Parliament, concluding debate on amendment to the anti-terrorism law .
He stressed it was necessary to pass the bill by yesterday since Government needed to report to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) by September 5 where T&T stands. Parliament’s mid- year recess is expected after next Friday.
Al-Rawi said the bill was also necessary since in T&T there are people who’ve revealed themselves internationally as supporters of terrorist ideology and had gone on National Geographic saying this and that they were engaged in active recruiting.
He cited former Enterprise resident Crawford who’d called himself Abu Sa’ad al-Trinidadi (from Trinidad), “...Who said he was from Trinidad and encouraged Muslims in T&T to take up arms against the State and support Isis ideology—that was in the (Isis) Dabiq magazine”.
Crawford was reported to have been killed in Middle East fighting in October 2016.
Al- Rawi added: “And there was Umar Abdullah who said he at one time supported Isis ideology and philosophy. Crawford was among (2011) detainees in the State of Emergency called by the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.”
Al-Rawi said T&T’s was also in danger of sanctions—concerning banks and brokering—from the European Parliament which misinterpreted FATF reports. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will take up the “blacklisting” issue at the July Caricom summit.