The leader of the Masjid Umar Ibn Khattab Jamaat in Rio Claro, Imam Nazim Mohammed, has called on the Trinidad and Tobago Government to expedite the repatriation of children trapped in Syrian camps under deplorable conditions. This heartfelt appeal comes after the tragic loss of 12 members of his family who joined the Islamic State (ISIS) and were reportedly killed.
Between 2015 and 2018, 19 of Mohammed’s relatives, including men, women, and children, illegally entered Syria and Iraq as jihadists. Security forces apprehended them, and while 12 are presumed dead, seven remain in custody or camps.
Among those detained are Mohammed’s 58-year-old daughter, Aneesa Mohammed-Waheed, and her daughters, Aidah (23), Azizah (32), and Sabirah (29), all serving 20-year prison sentences in Iraq. Meanwhile, his granddaughter Sumiyah, her husband Akeil, and their 14-year-old son Samir are held in Syrian camps, enduring harsh conditions for over six years.
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The 83-year-old imam expressed his growing despair over the delayed repatriation efforts for Samir and other children, emphasizing that these young individuals should not bear the consequences of their parents’ misguided decisions. “These children are innocent. They ended up in these camps through no fault of their own,” he said.
Mohammed agreed with Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally, who recently criticized the government’s slow response and highlighted the worsening instability in Syria following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. Rambally noted that this instability exacerbates an already dire humanitarian crisis, with little progress in addressing the plight of the detained children.
According to Human Rights Watch, at least 90 Trinidad and Tobago nationals, including 56 children, are unlawfully detained in northeast Syria. The organization reported that these children face life-threatening conditions, including inadequate access to healthcare, clean water, and education, as well as risks of sexual abuse and physical harm.
Imam Mohammed lamented that while other nations, including the United States and Barbados, have taken steps to repatriate their citizens, Trinidad and Tobago has made little headway. “Our children are suffering, yet outsiders come here and live comfortably. This disparity is unjust,” he said.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley recently acknowledged that no T&T nationals have been repatriated from Syria to date, despite ongoing efforts. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne added that the process requires careful consideration of national security concerns. In March, the government established a three-member committee, led by Nizam Mohammed, to devise a policy framework for repatriation.
Mohammed underscored the urgency of action, noting the deteriorating conditions in the camps. Reports indicate children have died from preventable illnesses, accidents, and a lack of basic necessities. “These are our citizens,” he said. “The government must act now to bring them home and give them a chance at a better life.”