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Sheik Abdullah el-Faisal, Jamaica and the war on terror
Monday, May 28, 2007
The events of September 11, 2001 in the United States changed the world as we knew it. The threat posed by terrorists - including those loyal to the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda - had long existed.
But when al-Qaeda hijackers flew commercial passenger jet airliners into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre, symbols of financial power, as well as the Pentagon in Washington, the headquarters of United States military might, the world understood in full measure for the first time, the extent of the determination among Islamic extremists to destroy the Western Establishment.
Predictably, the Western powers, led by the United States, have moved to protect their societies. Indeed, security measures now in place in the United States and Western Europe in particular have fuelled ongoing debate as to whether the experience of 9/11 is not being used as an excuse to remove individual rights and freedoms.
What is not in question is that extreme vigilance is needed to minimise the threat posed by people such as those whose actions led to the deaths of 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on that fateful day six years ago.
Jamaica and the Caribbean have inevitably been pulled along in this war on terror. For example, the extraordinary security systems and measures that triggered annoyance and frustration for many cricket fans during the recent Cricket World Cup 2007 had everything to do with the experience of 9/11.
It is against the backdrop of all of the above that Muslim cleric, Sheik Abdullah el-Faisal has been deported from Britain - his country of residence since 1992 - to his native Jamaica.
Sheik Abdullah has been ejected from Britain after spending four years in prison for allegedly inciting racial hatred against non-Muslims. British police said he used his privileged preaching position as cover while urging Muslims to wage a holy war against Jews, Hindus and the West.
We note in yesterday's Sunday Observer an assertion by a friend of Sheik Abdullah that the allegations were all lies made up by the British authorities. We note also that the local Islamic community will be moving to welcome him and to integrate him once he abides by the rules of the community.
We cannot judge Sheik Abdullah, who has broken no laws in Jamaica. This newspaper wishes him well. If indeed he was guilty as alleged by the British authorities, we trust he has learnt his lesson well and has repented of his ways. Jamaica has no place for the hate messages he is accused of having spread.
Beyond all of that, the deportation of Sheik Abdullah is a stark reminder that while as Jamaicans we may well consider ourselves and our society to be outside of the direct line of fire, we are in fact not removed from this war on terror.
Indeed, the point has been made before that Jamaica, like its sister Caribbean countries, could easily be perceived as soft targets. It is incumbent on the Government, the security forces and all well-thinking Jamaicans to maintain extreme vigilance.
Monday, May 28, 2007
The events of September 11, 2001 in the United States changed the world as we knew it. The threat posed by terrorists - including those loyal to the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda - had long existed.
But when al-Qaeda hijackers flew commercial passenger jet airliners into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre, symbols of financial power, as well as the Pentagon in Washington, the headquarters of United States military might, the world understood in full measure for the first time, the extent of the determination among Islamic extremists to destroy the Western Establishment.
Predictably, the Western powers, led by the United States, have moved to protect their societies. Indeed, security measures now in place in the United States and Western Europe in particular have fuelled ongoing debate as to whether the experience of 9/11 is not being used as an excuse to remove individual rights and freedoms.
What is not in question is that extreme vigilance is needed to minimise the threat posed by people such as those whose actions led to the deaths of 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on that fateful day six years ago.
Jamaica and the Caribbean have inevitably been pulled along in this war on terror. For example, the extraordinary security systems and measures that triggered annoyance and frustration for many cricket fans during the recent Cricket World Cup 2007 had everything to do with the experience of 9/11.
It is against the backdrop of all of the above that Muslim cleric, Sheik Abdullah el-Faisal has been deported from Britain - his country of residence since 1992 - to his native Jamaica.
Sheik Abdullah has been ejected from Britain after spending four years in prison for allegedly inciting racial hatred against non-Muslims. British police said he used his privileged preaching position as cover while urging Muslims to wage a holy war against Jews, Hindus and the West.
We note in yesterday's Sunday Observer an assertion by a friend of Sheik Abdullah that the allegations were all lies made up by the British authorities. We note also that the local Islamic community will be moving to welcome him and to integrate him once he abides by the rules of the community.
We cannot judge Sheik Abdullah, who has broken no laws in Jamaica. This newspaper wishes him well. If indeed he was guilty as alleged by the British authorities, we trust he has learnt his lesson well and has repented of his ways. Jamaica has no place for the hate messages he is accused of having spread.
Beyond all of that, the deportation of Sheik Abdullah is a stark reminder that while as Jamaicans we may well consider ourselves and our society to be outside of the direct line of fire, we are in fact not removed from this war on terror.
Indeed, the point has been made before that Jamaica, like its sister Caribbean countries, could easily be perceived as soft targets. It is incumbent on the Government, the security forces and all well-thinking Jamaicans to maintain extreme vigilance.
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