(Trinidad Express) The firing of talk show host Fazeer Mohammed has angered the Muslim community, forcing them to break their silence over what they claimed were months of discrimination against them by the People’s Partnership Government.
An emergency meeting was convened last night at the Islamic centre in Kelly Village, where around 50 representatives from various Islamic groups throughout the country were in attendance.
The meeting was chaired by Imtiaz Mohammed, president of the Islamic Guild of the Caribbean and South America and chairman of Trinidad and Tobago Muslim community.
Mohammed, on behalf of his Muslim peers, condemned the removal of Mohammed (F) from the programme First Up, which is broadcasted on State-owned CNMG. He added that, should their calls fall on deaf ears, the Muslim community will demonstrate later this week when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar returns from the United States.
“I condemn the action taken by CNMG and its executive. I condemn the action of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Suruj Rambachan, in the way he conducted himself in his line of questioning with Fazeer. It was irrelevant and had nothing to do with the substance of the interview,” Mohammed (I) said.
Mohammed (F) was fired from CNMG on Saturday in what CEO Ken Ali has said was a cost-cutting measure. However, the dismissal followed an argument with Foreign Affairs Minister Rambachan about Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar being in a leadership position, on the First Up programme last Thursday.
Yesterday, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Collin Partap, Line Minister responsible for CNMG, disassociated himself from the sacking.
Fazeer Mohammed himself has also indicated that Rambachan had a vendetta against him prior to last Thursday’s programme.
Last evening, Mohammed (I) said the Muslim community had endorsed the People’s Partnership Government at a function at the Rienzi Complex before the May 24 general election, and they left that meeting with the impression members of the Muslim community would be given an equal chance to serve in the Senate as well as State boards.
He said recently the Islamic Association celebrated its 50th anniversary, but he was unsuccessful in inviting Persad-Bissessar to the event although he tried several times.
“As a Muslim, the disappointment keeps coming all the time. This issue came as the final straw that broke the camel’s back,” Mohammed said.
He called for an apology to be made to Mohammed (F) and for him to be reinstated in his position.
Mohammed (F), who was present at the meeting, said a decision has already been taken, but said he would first like to hear from the Government before he can make any decision.
“Clearly there is a lot of disquiet (in the Muslim community) from the comments that have been made,” he said, adding that he would not want to speculate on the issue.
He said he was advised to not be the “sacrificial lamb” in a row between Muslims and Hindus. He stressed, however, that fundamental concerns were raised by his Muslim brothers that he could not ignore.
He said it would be a dereliction of duty as a Muslim and a citizen if he were to be concerned only with getting back his job.
Mahohar Ali, of Freeport, told the audience the entire episode seemed pre-planned.
“It opens up the possibility that Dr Rambachan came with an agenda,” he said, adding that he believed Mohammed’s firing was intentional.
Haseed Aziz added that the entire Muslim community will stand behind each other with respect to any decision that is taken.
“The whole country is upset and is rallying around whatever decision is to be taken and we will support Fazeer,” he said.
Kayam Dean said he was concerned over the democracy of CNMG.
“When I see a Minister come into a State-run television station which belongs to all of us and dictates how the programme should be run, I see it as a great threat to the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
