Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful)
I am NOT shocked at the ineptitude of the Police in handling this matter, especially as it involved such a high ranking Police officer "Assistant Commissioner of Police, Raymond Craig".
The bungling Police force in T&T is a shame that we all have to live with but it is especially shameful that they don't have the commonsense to address a sensitive investigation with a FOREIGN DIPLOMAT! I wonder how The Citizens and Government of T&T would feel if one of our Diplomats was treated similarly if they went to a foreign country to assist the citizens of that foreign country. Now let us challenge some prejudices by extending this scenario further, how would the Citizens and Government feel if a T&T Diplomat visited Saudi Arabia or another majority Muslim nation to assist their Citizens and they were treated as our Police force treated Mr. Alshubaili?
Stripping a man in his hotel room and searching him on the premise that "they went to investigate a claim of someone handing out visas at the Hyatt" is downright wicked! First of all, who made this CLAIM? and Second, how did the Police narrow their search from all the guests to just this Hotel Guest as they were searching for 'someone'. The simple answers... You narrow down the search by racial and character profiling by singling out someone because they have a 'funny accent' and carry a different colour passport. This no doubt would have been the underlying criterion employed by the person who informed the Police by making an embarrassing 'claim' that exposes their blatant prejudice against Muslims.
The actions by the Police brought embarrassment and shame upon the Police all by their own actions but the hidden plot here, the undertone to this sad episode, is that there are many people in T&T who carry this prejudice with them and it is unfortunate that Mr. Alshubaili had to suffer this on behalf of all T&T Muslims. The only good that can come from this rude exposure is that we have this opportunity to see for ourselves that such prejudice exists in T&T where supposedly "every creed and race finds an equal place". Muslims in T&T would do well to learn from this episode, and evaluate their affinity and loyalty to a society that scorns that which Allah has sent to them and celebrate that which Allah has forbidden to them. My humble advice to my Muslim Brothers and Sisters is to raise your voice in accordance with Allah's injunction in the Quran; (Surah 3: Ayat 104 & 110), to enjoin in Good and forbid Evil.
I pray that an apology comes forthwith from the Police and the Government toward Mr. Alshubaili, the Saudi Government and the Muslims of T&T as this is an affront to all the good that has come from the law abiding, disciplined, productive and tolerant Muslims of T&T.

We do not have all the facts in this matter and should not get too emotional over this unfortunate incident. This matter concerns the whole country, not only the Muslim community.

Let us assume that this was a Saudi diplomat assigned by his Caracas-based Ambassador or Embassy to facilitate the issuance of visas to pilgrims going to Mecca.

As a Saudi national/diplomat Alshabaili would have sought and obtained a diplomatic visa from the T&T Embassy in Caracas, or the airline would not have allowed him on board. Ideally the T&T Ambassador/Embassy would have communicated this man's travel and his mission to the Foreign ministry.

As a diplomat, again assuming he is, travelling on a diplomatic passport he would have been entitled to certain privileges and immunities in respect to his travel to and performance of his duties in a country to which he is duly accredited.

Treatment of diplomats is always a sensitive issue, even in these modern days of security concerns. And the protective services, especially senior officers need to know how to treat with foreign diplomats and the provisions of the relevant Geneva conventions.

In this case, in my view, the police should have consulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as to how to proceed, unless there was some immediate threat to security. It seems they acted foolishly and it would be no surprise that the Saudi Embassy lodges a protest and demands at least an apology from the T&T Government.

Diplomatic passport?

Raul et al, seem to be making a lot about Mr Alshabaili being a diplomat and having a diplomat passport which equates to diplomatic immunity.

It is a fact, that a number of the diplomatic community have breached these priviledges on the international scene, crimes have been committed but due to 'diplomatic immunity', the culprits have escaped punishment and in some cases, absconded back to their own country. I seem to recall hearing that diplomatic bags have also been used for unmentionable purposes.

To be falsely accused (if that is the case) of doing something/being in possession of something, subsequent searches AND interrogation by the police is humiliating to anyone. Think back to the 5th form class where the students were stripped searched at school (not even in the police station itself) in an attempt to locate a fellow student's missing TT$1,200 (or was it TT$1,500).

If a wrong has been committed (on the part of the police), anger ought to be expressed irrespective of whether the subject of the treatment has a diplomatic passport or not, and vice versa.

La Diva

The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet

I agree, search them man.
The same way in the US and Canada, from the time police see a black man in a nice car he does get stop and search.

I just dont understand how the editors at the Guardian allow articles as badly written as this one. The first paragraph of the article states that the police stormed a hotel room in a futile search for arms. How does the reporter know this? was he or she present? did the police confirm this to the reporter? If so why was no mentioned made of the confirmation?

Speaking about confirmation it appears from reading this article that no attempt was made to get the police or even any one from the Foreign Office's version. How can this continue to pass for journalism in the Guardian. I just dont understand. I would love to know what sort of journalism training some of these reporters have. I challenge whether some of them actually have degrees in journalism.

Time and time again, I seem to get a much better picture of what really transpired from the Express. Their article on the matter actually included comments from the Police Commissioner as follows:

"Contacted last night, Philbert said while Assistant Commissioner of Police Raymond Craig did admit to visiting the diplomat’s hotel room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain on Monday evening, he said his officers did not say they searched Alshubaili.

He said, ’I spoke to Mr Craig, who said they went to investigate a claim of someone handing out visas at the Hyatt.’

’This is not normal, so we as the police have the right to investigate such a claim,’ Philbert said.

According to Mohammed, Alshubaili came into the country to process visas for local Muslims hoping to take the annual Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Philbert said upon investigation, they found this claim was true and his officers simply asked Alshubali some questions." _ From the Trinidad Express.

Whether we believe the Police Commissioner's statement, or not, at least we have them and they add value to our debate on this matter.

Don S. NY

Time to migrate...

I pray that if indeed this was an act of mischief, that God punishes everyone of them severely in this life, and in the Hereafter. Ameen.

Can someone please explain in what capacity this gentleman was functioning on behalf of the Saudi Government. Was our government even aware of his presence here?? If so, how can you be allegedly dispensing travel visas from your hotel room (as stated in another newspaper)??

IBN TV8 last night explored this issue.

Based on what was aired it seems that under normal circumstances getting a visa to go to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj is beset with uncertainty - with over 2 million travellers it is an enormous undertaking to get through the paperwork and intended itineraries of travellers from every corner of the planet.

In recent years the visas were obtained through the Saudi embassy in Caracas and since there is a quota for each country it is not guaranteed that each applicant will get a visa.

So, the move by the Saudi government to send an official here was good news for intending Hajj pilgrims.

He was greeted by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Piarco as a Saudi official with diplomatic status.

Now, we have this sordid embarrassing turn of events with one arm of the government unaware of another arm.

Local Muslim organizations have every right to be upset and they must demand an apology from the government and the Police Service.

If this apology does not materialise then they should write to the various heads of state of the Commonwealth countries with Muslim majorities and even those with minorities informing them of the callous exercise of state power by our government.

Here is a partial list of some of those countries with an approximate percentage of Muslims and the Muslim total:

Bangladesh 145,312,000 89.6
Brunei Darussalam 269,000 67.2
Gambia 1,625,000 95
Ghana 3,787,000 15.9
Guyana 55,000 7.2
India 160,945,000 13.4
Malaysia 16,581,000 60.4
Maldives 304,000 98.4
Mauritius 214,000 16.6
Nigeria 78,056,000 50.4
Pakistan 174,082,000 96.3
Sierra Leone 4,059,000 71.3
Uganda 3,958,000 12.1
Tanzania 13,218,000 30.2

fali
Muslims in Trinidad has always turn the other cheek . It is about time Muslims speak out in Trinidad. Sometimes we need to remind our fellow citizens of all the contributions the muslims has made to Trinidad. Muslims always support our fellow communities. We never protest or demand anything from government like so many others do.We always struggle to be self sufficent and supportive of our government and the needs of this country. Sometimes we don't make claims to things allowed to us in this country for the sake of peace and brotherhood. So we keep on struggling quietly unnoticed. My advice to the muslims sometines you have to speak out especially since muslims are being prosecuted all over the globe.Muslims have already proven themselves in Trinidad . And we should not allow this global racism towards muslims to spread to our Beautiful country where all faiths get along in harmony. Remember the squeeky wheel gets the greese.

Do I have the full picture?

The police went to investigate a report of someone 'handing out visas' at the Hyatt.

They did not go, to my knowledge, to investigate a Muslim, Hindu, Black, Chinese or even Martian, who was 'handing out' or to be more accurate, processing visas at the Hyatt.

Someone appears to have dropped the ball on this and we as a community ought to be grateful the matter was investigated. What if Mr Alshabaili was issuing the visas fraudulantly? The 'cry' would be, how come the police did not know about it? How come they did nothing about it? Either way, they are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

Oh, and to add salt to the wound, we have once again, sensationalist report/inaccurate reporting. As someone pointed out, how does the author of this article know that the police 'stormed' the Hyatt? According to how I interpret the police statement, they walked in, they did not storm it.

In addition, the article says the police went looking for ammunition? According to the police statement, they were responding to a call about someone issuing visas. It would have been good if the journalist had been able to present all the various sides.

La Diva

The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet

Calm down Rag Heads. This Saudi Arabian goat herder could very well be an under-cover Al Qaida recruiter and an unrepentant terrorist. And I truly suspect that he is a part-time stone thrower and a professional camel thief when he is in his own desert village. After all, he is a Muslim, isn't he? Did the police find any stones on this bomb maker? Why can't you closet pork fanatics allow the police to do their jobs? Before we know it you neck choppers will be handing out Fatwahs against Patrick Manning and company like toilet paper off the roll. You do use toilet paper, don't you?

T.O.Y.

Security forces all over the world have every right to be concern with Islamic terrorist activities. The vast majority of terrorism is orchestrated by Islamic group under the cause of “Jihad”.

Have we forgotten 9/11 where the majority of the terrorist were Saudi Arabians? And surely Trinidadian have not forgotten July 27, 1990, the Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt. Twenty four people died and millions of dollars in damages were done, not counting the fear of the population, the stigma it left and the backlash that the Muslim community suffered.

Fali points out the contribution of the Muslim community, no doubt, and stresses the loyalty and the support given to the government? Trying to over through a duly elected government hardly qualify as being supportive.

The Muslim community can be outrage but should not be surprised that past actions would make security forces act in that manner.

People in Trinidad enjoy a lot of freedom and the muslin could decide to enjoy the freedom to leave, as Servant said “Time for Muslims to intend to make Hijra (migrate) from this kuffar country”. Nobody is being force to live among the infidels.

According to the convoluted logic of some posters here because of the events of 1990 the security forces and the population at large should be wary of Muslims and Islam.

Notwithstanding that it was a coup attempt by a largely, black Muslim organization that was in no way connected to the majority mainstream Muslim community.

But let's apply the same logic to another previous coup attempt - the 1970 Black Power Revolution of Makandal Daaga and others aided and abetted by elements of the Defence Force (most of the participants are still around and moving about freely in our society).

So, shouldn't we be fearful of Afro-Trinidadians and soldiers?

Or let's go back even some more in history. Shouldn't we be fearful and outraged by the local whites? After all their forefathers were members of the dreaded plantocracy who perpetrated the horrors of slavery against a black population.

As for the 9/11 fear-mongerers and Bush apologists don't get me started on that can of worms (like, weren't these same mujahideen once the darlings of US anti-Soviet policy in Afghanistan: they were even trained and armed by the CIA and President Bush (the older one) even called them "Freedom Fighters" and met them in the White House)

Have you (read the Quran)? Prayers are answered, and not answered, and God is the Most Just, Swift in Punishment, and the Most Merciful. And yes, His Mercy exceeds His Wrath.

Get it right before you come commenting with you anglo-biases.

Have you (read the Quran)? Prayers are answered, and not answered, and God is the Most Just, Swift in Punishment, and the Most Merciful. And yes, His Mercy exceeds His Wrath.

Get it right before you come commenting with you anglo-biases.

Have you (read the Quran)? Prayers are answered, and not answered, and God is the Most Just, Swift in Punishment, and the Most Merciful. And yes, His Mercy exceeds His Wrath.

Get it right before you come commenting with you anglo-biases.