Yasin Abu Bakr (born Lennox Philip c. 1941) is the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, a Muslim group in Trinidad and Tobago. The group staged an attempted coup d’état in 1990.
Life
Abu Bakr was born Lennox Philip on the island of Trinidad in the then-British Leeward Islands, and grew up in a run-down suburb of Port-of-Spain as the eighth of fifteen children. He would later attend and graduate from Queen's Royal College, and would spend time on his tertiary studies in Toronto, Canada.
Abu Bakr would later convert to Islam, although there are two conflicting descriptions of how it took place. One story states it occurred in 1969 after an Egyptian preacher visited Trinidad.[1] The other story states it occurred in the early 1970s while still in Canada, and that he would return to Trinidad already converted in 1973. He would change his name shortly after converting.
In the 1970s he lived in Libya as a guest of Muamar Gaddafi.[1] Upon his return to Trinidad he founded Jamaat al Muslimeen.[1]
Coup
In 1990, 100 of Abu Bakr's followers stormed the Trinidadian parliament and took the Prime Minister hostage.[1] Abu Baker surrendered to police six days later, and spent 2 years in jail.[1]
Murder of Vindra Naipul-Coolman
As of March 2007, three people rumored to be part of Abu Bakr’s organization, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, have confessed to their role in the kidnapping, murder, and dismemberment of local businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman. They have since been acquitted.[2]
Personal life
Abu Bakr's son, Fuad, would later embark on a political course, eventually becoming the leader of the New National Vision party, a minor political party founded in 1994 in Trinidad and Tobago. His attempt at obtaining a seat in the 2020 General Elections proved unsuccessful.
References
- ^ a b c d e "The man who led the Western world's only Islamist coup". 3 March 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Lawyers: Free the acquitted 7". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday Archives. 2 June 2016.
External links
- Angela Potter, "Trinidad Muslims Being Closely Monitored", Associated Press, 1 November 2001.
- Robin Walker, "Profile: Jamaat al Muslimeen", BBC News, 3 June 2007.
- Danny Gold, "The Islamic Leader Who Tried to Overthrow Trinidad Has Mellowed… a Little", Vice News, 30 May 2014.