Recently, a Saudi Arabian Diplomat travelled to our shores. The purpose of his trip was to issue /grant visas to Trinidadian- born muslims to go to their Hajj without the hassle of going to another country to get the visa. The Trinidad and Tobago Immigration Authorities took swift action not to let this diplomat go past easy as he was questioned and searched while the Ministry of National Security was informed of his presence on our shores. The Trinidad and Tobago Authorities could not understand why a diplomat would come all the way to our shores and issue/grant visas from a hotel room - the Hyatt Regency. This is the same hotel that would be hosting guests for the Commonwealth Heads of Government around the 24th November and that includes the Queen !

The press indicated that the young Saudi Diplomat was upset with the manner in which the Trinidad and Tobago Authorities treated him and he left our shores within a very short space of time. He reported back to his Government and the Saudi Officials have decided not to issue visas to the Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago to perform their yearly hajj.

The Guardian newspaper highlighted this drama with two commentaries  - one pro and one against. You can read the two commentaries and have your say too.  I will list them below.

The picture of the Saudi Diplomat has been uploaded for your viewing.

Thanks

Laurie

This is the PRO part  courtesy the Guardian

Put yourselves in our shoes, non-muslims

"I wonder if our non-Muslim brothers and sisters from Trinidad who travel to Jerusalem, India and other parts of the world to perform their own pilgrimages endure the type of embarrassment that Trinidadian Muslims do, or Muslims as a whole?

I wonder when the world would understand that Muslims are not terrorists and terrorists are not Muslims? I wonder when the “masters of this world” would stop invading Muslim countries because they want their oil, riches and resources and would stop at nothing to get them, thereby causing people to retaliate and fight for what is rightfully theirs? As a pilgrim myself who made this journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last year, I know about the hassles and sacrifices that our leaders make for us by personally going to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to obtain car codes and visas etc to provide everything for us to make this trip possible. So this year we were fortunate that they were able to get the Saudi Government to send a diplomat (Fawaz Abdul Rahman Alshubaili) to “ease us up.” Lo and behold the man was treated with such disdain and disrespect.

It is alleged that the Ministry of National Security and the “powers that be” knew this beforehand, so who gave the instructions for Alshabaili to be interrogated and humiliated in such a manner and why? If there are rogue elements in our society professing to be Muslims and doing wrong, what does that have to do with diplomats and why do the rest of us have to pay for their actions? Why doesn’t the Police Service spend more time investigating its own? It is alleged that the police, the Government and our so-called religious leaders know who our gang members are and the criminal activities they are involved in, so why don’t they stop trying to “play friends” and do their jobs and spend their time eradicating the crime that is plaguing this country? Some might say that things could be worse. True, but why does it have to continuously worsen? This is a small country and if it is managed properly, things could change. Believe it or not, one person could make a difference. It is hard enough that when we travel anywhere in the world we have to pay for those responsible for the 9/11 fiasco. We are interrogated, investigated, searched and publicly humiliated (this is not a joke).

So our non-Muslim brothers and sisters might well say this does not concern them. Well one day it might. For example, your siblings or children could marry someone of the Muslim faith and you will be branded, even if you are not of the same faith. Put yourself in our position, imagine yourself in our shoes. We have lived amongst you for generations with peace, unity and brotherhood. All of a sudden certain countries say Muslims are terrorists and the rest of the world is now brainwashed. Pity! Muslims must speak up now. The time for remaining silent has passed. The time for pretending everything is alright is gone. Nothing is right anymore. I would simply like to hear both sides of the story. Perhaps the Minister of National Security or the Prime Minister could enlighten us as to what really transpired between the police and Alshabaili. I must say that I feel somewhat betrayed, hurt and disgusted. When would all this madness stop? Think of all the good we could do for this country and its people if we stop judging people and do what is right and just.

This is the against part courtesy a TT Citizen and the Guardian:

Published: 7 Nov 2009

What is all the fuss about? What is so sacred about a Saudi or Saudi Arabia for that matter? The police in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, regularly round up hundreds of Saudi citizens for routine questioning. So why can’t we do so if our National Security officers deem it necessary? And what about bin Laden? Is he not a Saudi? And may I remind you that 17 of the 19 terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center were Saudis.

The extreme Wahhabism that has been exported from Saudi Arabia has now come home to haunt the Saudis. Forget about it, guys. Assistant Commissioner of Police Raymond Craig, please get on with your job on behalf of the citizens of T&T of any creed.

David Salinger
Maraval