Yasin Abu Bakr
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Yasin Abu Bakr (born Lennox Philip; 19 October 1941<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> – 21 October 2021)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was a Trinidadian radical Islamist leader and militant who founded and led the Jamaat al Muslimeen, an Afro-Trinidadian Muslim group in Trinidad and Tobago. He is best known for orchestrating the 1990 coup d’état, during which he and over 100 armed members of his group stormed the Parliament (Red House) and state television station, holding the Prime Minister at the time A.N.R Robinson and several cabinet members hostage for six days.
Life
Abu Bakr was born Lennox Philip in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in a suburb of Port-of-Spain as the eighth of fifteen children. He graduated from Queen's Royal College, and spent time on his tertiary studies in Toronto, Canada.
Abu Bakr converted 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.<ref name="bbc.com">Template:Cite news</ref> The other story states it occurred in the early 1970s while still in Canada, and that he returned to Trinidad already converted in 1973. He changed his name shortly after converting.
In the 1970s he lived in Libya as a guest of Muammar Gaddafi.<ref name="bbc.com"/> Upon his return to Trinidad and Tobago he founded the Jamaat al Muslimeen.<ref name="bbc.com"/>
Abu Bakr collapsed and died at his home on 21 October 2021 at the age of 80.
Coup
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 1990, 100 of Abu Bakr's followers stormed the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago and took the Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson hostage.<ref name="bbc.com"/> Abu Bakr surrendered to police six days later, and spent two years in jail.<ref name="bbc.com"/>
Personal life
Abu Bakr had four wives including Annisa Abu Bakr, an economist,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Atiyah Abu Bakr,<ref name="Pires-2015">Template:Cite news</ref> and Indrani Maharaj-Abu Bakr, an attorney<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and 15 children: nine daughters and six sons.<ref name="Fraser-2014">Template:Cite news</ref>
His son Fuad later embarked 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. He unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a seat in the 2020 general elections. Another son of his, Radanfah, played football professionally.
References
External links
- Angela Potter, "Trinidad Muslims Being Closely Monitored" Template:Webarchive, 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.