Shal­iza?Has­sanali

Pres­i­dent of the Trinidad Mus­lim League (TML) Nass­er Mustapha has de­scribed as "un­for­tu­nate" a re­cruit­ment dri­ve in cen­tral Trinidad by Ras­ta City and the Mus­lims–two Port-of-Spain-based gangs.

Mustapha said young peo­ple in Cen­tral had been look­ing for some­thing to hold on to "and a gang presents an op­por­tu­ni­ty for them to feel a sense of at­tach­ment. I think whether it is Rasta­far­i­an­ism or Is­lam, it is just a cov­er-up. They op­er­ate in the same way as any oth­er crim­i­nal gang. It is not some­thing that is in­flu­enced by re­li­gion and val­ues as such."

Ras­ta City is re­port­ed­ly based in Beetham Gar­dens and the Mus­lims in Laven­tille.

He said the youth in T&T were be­ing mis­guid­ed.

"They do not have strong fam­i­ly ties or par­ents who care. They claim to have a re­li­gious iden­ti­ty. It's un­for­tu­nate these things are hap­pen­ing in En­ter­prise. If you are form­ing a re­li­gious group you should have God and spir­i­tu­al­i­ty in your life."

Mustapha said some peo­ple were dressed in Mus­lim garb but "their hearts re­main un­changed. I am not sure if these peo­ple pray."

Mustapha, a lec­tur­er in so­ci­ol­o­gy, said in the month of Ra­madan, Mus­lims were taught to prac­tise self-re­straint, pa­tience and tol­er­ance.

Last month, the gangs ex­pe­ri­enced a set­back when head of the Cen­tral Di­vi­sion of the Po­lice Ser­vice, Snr Supt John­ny Abra­ham, ar­rest­ed two key play­ers and slapped some 34 shoot­ing and gun charges on them.