SUMMARY

Jamaat al-Muslimeen (also known as the Group of Muslims or Society of Muslims) was an Afro-Trinidadian, Islamist group founded in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in 1984. It emerged during a period when tensions between Afro-Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians, the two dominant ethnic groups within Trinidad and Tobago, were high and the economic situation was deteriorating. Its core issues were racism, social justice, poverty, and government corruption.

Jamaat al-Muslimeen claimed to represent the interests of all Afro-Trinidadians, having been inspired by Afro-American radicalism and the consequential Black Power Movement that manifested during the 1970s in Trinidad and Tobago. Most Afro-Trinidadians were Christian but the history of slavery and loss of African language, religion and culture led to Christianity being associated with this. Therefore, conversion to Islam symbolized resistance and an alternative identity. Support for Jamaat al-Muslimeen mostly drew from the small population of Afro-Trinidadians that converted to Islam, despite aiming to represent the interests of all Afro-Trinidadians. It also received a lesser amount of support from other ethnic and racial groups such as Indo-Trinidadian Muslims.

In 1990, the Jamaat al-Muslimeen had between 200 and 500 members. Since carrying out a five-day coup attempt in July 1990, Jamaat al-Muslimeen became notorious for its criminal activities rather than politics; it was involved in violence and organized crime including money laundering, extortion, arms and narcotics trafficking, kidnappings and political corruption. Jamaat al-Muslimeen was alleged to be well connected to all the major Trinidadian political parties and the national security services. Its narrow support base amongst the Afro-Trinidadian, marginalized areas of Port of Spain also proved valuable during elections as a political swing vote demographic.

Jamaat al-Muslimeen was led by Yasin Abu Bakr, a former Trinidadian policeman also known as Lennox Phillip. He was said to be an admirer of Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Quaddafi and continued to be a powerful figure in Trinidad and Tobago following the 1990 coup attempt. Yasin Abu Bakr managed to secure a general amnesty preventing over 100 Jamaat al-Muslimeen members involved in the 1990 coup from prosecution.

During the 1980s, the Government of Libya provided financial support to Jamaat al-Muslimeen through the World Islamic Call Society as well as paramilitary training to Jamaat al-Muslimeen fighters in Libya. Although the Government of Trinidad and Tobago accused the Government of Libya of inspiring the 1990 coup attempt, there was no evidence of this. Some sources also claim that Jamaat al-Muslimeen received financial support from the Government of Sudan.

Jamaat al-Muslimeen has been involved in the state-based category of UCDP organized violence.