One of the country's largest Muslim organisations is making it clear that its presence at an event in Barrackpore with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is not an endorsement of Rowley and the People's National Movement.
Trinidad Muslim League Incorporated (TML Inc) made this point in a press release on Saturday in response to a recent media report. TML Inc, Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Janaat
Association, Tackveeyatul Islamic Association (TIA) and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community gathered at the Subrattee Trace Masjid on Wednesday where Rowley handed over documents for the development of the Douglas Road Barrackpore Muslim Cemetery on eight acres of state land.
This came days after the UmmahTT Muslim Federation publicly endorsed United National Congress political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, while the TIA, ASJA and TML Inc had distanced themselves from any political party stating that they were impartial and their members were free to vote for any party.
However, UmmahTT chairman Rasheed Karim has since labelled his Muslim brothers as hypocrites. He said while they criticised his organisation for supporting Persad-Bissessar they pledged their support to Rowley and his government at the handing over of the land documents in Barrackpore.
In the release, TML Inc's public relations officer Rasheed Ali stated, "We attended a meeting at the Subrattee Trace Masjid on the invitation of the Government to witness the allocation of lands for a Muslim cemetery at Douglas Road, Barrackpore. Our attendance in no way should be viewed as being political or an endorsement of any political party.
"We reiterate that TML Inc is NOT aligned with any of the political parties contesting the 2020 general election. As an independent Islamic organisation, we have and continue to work impartially with the authorities, to advance the well-being of our membership and the national
community."
Ali further stated that TML has no objection to meeting with any of the political entities to discuss issues affecting the Muslim community and by extension the society.