“A country more readily associated with calypso and carnival than the ‘caliphate'” is the one reported to have the highest rate of Islamic State recruitment in the Western hemisphere, an alarming title to hold: Trinidad.
The “designation” also proves that appearances (e.g. of calypso and carnival) are no indicator of how Islamized a Western country can be; Islamic supremacists are well-versed in deception.
I visited Trinidad recently, and every rest stop along a main route was really a rum shop with Carib beer signs — one small sign of a secular hope that Trinidad and Tobago will not be completely overtaken by jihadists.
“ISIS in the Caribbean”, by Simon Cottee, The Atlantic, December 8, 2016:
This summer, the so-called Islamic State published issue 15 of its online magazine Dabiq. In what has become a standard feature, it ran an interview with an ISIS foreign fighter. “When I was around twenty years old I would come to accept the religion of truth, Islam,” said Abu Sa’d at-Trinidadi, recalling how he had turned away from the Christian faith he was born into.
At-Trinidadi, as his nom de guerre suggests, is from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), a country more readily associated with calypso and carnival than the “caliphate.” Asked if he had a message for “the Muslims of Trinidad,” he condemned his co-religionists at home for remaining in “a place where you have no honor and are forced to live in humiliation, subjugated by the disbelievers.” More chillingly, he urged Muslims in T&T to wage jihad against their fellow citizens: “Terrify the disbelievers in their own homes and make their streets run with their blood.”
For well over a year and a half now, Raqqa, the so-called stronghold of the Islamic State in Syria, has been subjected to sustained aerial bombardment by U.S., French, and Russian war planes. In recent months, the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition has reportedly killed more than 10,000 ISIS fighters, including key figures among ISIS’s leadership, most notably its senior strategist and spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. It has also launched an offensive, now in its second month, on the group’s Iraqi capital of Mosul. According to estimates by American officials, ISIS has lost about 45 percent of its territory in Syria and 20 percent in Iraq since it rose to prominence in the summer of 2014. At the same time, the flow of foreign fighters to the caliphate has plummeted, from a peak of 2,000 crossing the Turkey-Syria border each month in late 2014 to as few as 50 today. Yet still there are people making the long and precarious 6,000-mile journey from Trinidad to Syria in an effort to live there. Just three days before the release of Dabiq 15, eight were detained in southern Turkey, attempting to cross into ISIS-controlled territory in Syria. All were female, and they included children.
In a recent paper in the journal Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, John McCoy and W. Andy Knight posit that between 89-125 Trinidadians—or Trinis, to use the standard T&T idiom—have joined ISIS. Roodal Moonilal, an opposition Member of Parliament in T&T, insists that the total number is considerably higher, claiming that, according to a leaked security document passed on to him, over 400 have left since 2013. Even the figure of 125 would easily place Trinidad, with a population of 1.3 million, including 104,000 Muslims, top of the list of Western countries with the highest rates of foreign-fighter radicalization…….

Muhammad's Ghost says
Does not surprise me. A number of years ago when I frequented discussion rooms on PalTalk there was a population-disproportionate number of Trinidadian converts to Islam that were galvanized with extremist ideology and energized for dawah.
jihad3tracker says
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Hugh Fitzgerald says
Calypsonians, and not only in Trinidad, may be surprised to learn that Muhammad is on record as denouncing singing (and some Islamic authorities believe he also meant to denounce all music). Music that is frivolous, that diverts a Muslim’s attention from the Qur’an, is certainly banned. Music and Muhammad do not mix. See, for as long as you can stand it, here:: https://islamqa.info/en/5000.
Frank Courtney says
I got about halfway through. The article’s tedium is exceeded only by its idiocy.
Ba Zodee says
What a scholarly response! Three cheers for Frank!! You clearly have everything you need in your refrigerator and on your TV!
ECAW says
Isn’t this business with Islam and music overstated? Music is certainly haram in the dark heart of Islam, Saudi Wahhabism/Salafism, but there is music all around the Islamic world (with North African music being particularly beguiling).
Looking at it scripturally rather than geographically we find a similar division. Of the Koranic verses quoted in islamqa the only translation (out of 50) which presents them as having anything to do with music is the Saudis’ own “Wahhabi Koran”, the Hillali-Khan version:
http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/31/6/default.htm
and
http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/17/64/default.htm
and
http://islamawakened.com/quran/53/61/
gravenimage says
Yes–there is no music or beauty in Islam. What an arid, loveless creed!
Thanks for that link, Hugh.
Here’s Trinidad’s official Carnival theme for 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpOVeaj-c1I
Music, dance, scanty costumes, a Christian pre-Lenten festival, and general celebration and joy–what could *possibly* be more Haram?
ECAW says
graven – so, despite the evidence, you prefer to believe that this Saudi Salafist site presents a view about music which is representative of the whole of Islam rather than just themselves.
Wellington says
Anyone who as an adult becomes a Muslim is a fool, but extra foolish is any adult black who becomes a Muslim since Islam’s record on black African slavery is far worse than that of the West’s (e.g., it was initiated from the seventh century onwards by the Islamic world rather than the fifteenth century thereafter by the West) and, unlike the West, which eventually realized the great wrong all of slavery was and which took gigantic measures to end it, and has profusely apologized for it as well, the Islamic world on its own never realized the great wrong it was, never took measures on its own to end it, and has NEVER apologized for its role in said iniquitous institution.
Conclusion: ANY black of our day converting to Islam deserves no respect. Indeed, such a person deserves scorn of the highest kind for the reasons above which I stated.
Kepha says
I fully understand your point about the folly of blacks embracing Islam (unless born into Hausa, Peul, Mandingo, Nubi’in, Fur, or similar ethnicities of which Islam is very much a part). My whole adult life I’ve seen Malcolm X as one of the most overrated people in the whole modern American canon.
But I’m not so sure I know the ethnicity of these Trinidadian Muslims who join the Syrian Jihad. The country has lots of people descended from the Indian subcontinent, among whom are many Muslims. After the abolition of slavery, the British began importing them to work the sugar plantations (the Afro-Trinidadians had migrated to the towns after emancipation). After all, Vidyadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, arguably modern Trinidad’s most famous man of letters, was of Indian heritage and the grandson of someone who arrived as indentured laabor, albeit Sir Vidya was raised in a Hindu home.
Oliver says
Wellington, I agree.
A minor point- and this is about The nation Of Islam-which is (primarily or entirely black).
When Bill Clinton was Pres., in one of the more notorious ( for all crime, drugs, rapes and murders being among the most offensive) and Chicago unable to control the violence, Clinton (not sure how he did it-) got The nation Of Islam into the place. TO POLICE AND PATROL IT. Within ( best i recall) a few months- crime became non existent.
I THINK- that there was a HUD (Dept. Of Housing & Urban Development) mortgage on the complex, and using the terminology-for the lender to protect their investment.
But, the group did do some good. No idea if the place has continued to be more or less crime free or not. But cleaned up, at least for awhile.
Wellington says
I know about that example, Oliver, but fascist regimes of all sort have contained crime but at the price of freedom and the Nation of Islam has fascism written all over it. Optimally, I want both freedom (with toughness though) and far less crime. Can be done but anything Islamic will never achieve this combination.
Oliver says
Wellington. I agree. What I have as a sort of fantasy. Thousands of Nation of Islam people go to Lebanon and join Hezbollah. Tbousands of other Muslims leave the US and join ISIS and al queida. Then the two. Or three. Sides have a massive battle
And annihilate each other
gravenimage says
Oliver wrote:
Wellington, I agree.
A minor point- and this is about The nation Of Islam-which is (primarily or entirely black).
When Bill Clinton was Pres., in one of the more notorious ( for all crime, drugs, rapes and murders being among the most offensive) and Chicago unable to control the violence, Clinton (not sure how he did it-) got The nation Of Islam into the place. TO POLICE AND PATROL IT. Within ( best i recall) a few months- crime became non existent.
…………………………..
Oliver, my husband is originally from Chicago–albeit from a pretty safe neighborhood–but there was *never* a time when crime there was nonexistent.
Nation of Islam “security” firms were insanely allowed to patrol Chicago and other cities during the 1990s.
The same thing happened in Oakland with Nation of Islam offshoot Your Black Muslim Bakery, and leader Yusuf Bey used it to hide involvement in under-age rape, fiscal corruption, and the murder of rivals. This wasn’t brought to an end until after 2007, when they assassinated investigative journalist Chauncey Bailey.
The idea is often bandied about that there is no crime in Islam and that Muslim nations are crime-free paradises, but this is simply not the case. Most Muslim countries are violent hell holes.
Moreover, things like raping and murdering Infidels are perfectly Halal under Islam.
Here’s Rahm Emanuel vowing to bring in the Nation of Islam to patrol Chicago:
http://dcxposed.com/2012/07/26/nation-of-islam-invited-by-rham-emanuel-to-patrol-chicago-streets-w-farakan/
More:
I THINK- that there was a HUD (Dept. Of Housing & Urban Development) mortgage on the complex, and using the terminology-for the lender to protect their investment.
But, the group did do some good. No idea if the place has continued to be more or less crime free or not. But cleaned up, at least for awhile.
…………………………..
There was no cleanup, Oliver–in fact, this coincided with Chicago’s most violent period during the crack epidemic. But that didn’t stop newspapers like the LA Times from falling all over themselves praising these Islamic thugs.
Oliver says
My two brief. About a week each time. In Chicago
I stayed on Michigan ave. And went downtown to The Board of Trade building
That was about it.
The crime was what I read or heard about. It seems black on black crime is never ending
ECAW says
Very true Wellington. You would think the fact that Allah routinely refers to his followers as his slaves would give a clue.
Bob says
If I remember correctly, muslim nations, eg Mauritania, still hold and advertise their slave markets. Any objections heard from the UN?
Oliver says
Of course the Useless Nations cannot say or do anything
They are tol busy condemning Israel. For keeping lands won in wars. When they were attacked
gravenimage says
Yes–17% of the population of Mauritania is estimated to live in slavery.
Aardvark says
And yet there are far more blacks in America today than there are in Saudi…
The reason is that male slaves being transported to Arabia were routinely castrated. More than half of them died because of this. And any children born to black female sex slaves were simply killed.
Shmooviyet says
Same hope here. West Indians have deep pride in and love for their homes. Some of these islands are so tiny in size/population, everyone knows each other. There are worship houses for every denomination and attendance is regular.
But the youth culture is rotting in some places, with increased cocaine use, prostitution, etc. Also increasing is racism toward whites among a small percentage; they see the BLM movement etc and want to emulate these ‘heroes’. This worsened with BO’s election, no question. Islam USES this anger and fools the easily-moved into believing this cult is the place for them.There is awareness of islam as a deadly ideology and in some islands, immigration from ME countries is extremely limited.
Again, the people’s pride in their nations is like concrete– I believe they would fight like he.. to protect their beloved lands & cultures from being overtaken.
Charles says
How Bazaar!
Trinidad and the Satanic State, don’t seem to go togeather at all!
But, Satan takes his “souls” where ever he can!
I’m sure they will all be so very surprised to find themselves all burning in Hell togeather!
Such is the fate of such fools and demons!
?
Papa Whiskey says
Ironically, “Trinidad” is Spanish for “trinity” — a concept that “assigns partners to God,” in violation of quite a number of Qur’anic commands. Hence, putting “al-Trinidadi” in a Muslim nom de guerre is an act of apostasy.
gravenimage says
True, Papa Whiskey–and good to see you posing again.
Kepha says
Partners? Actually, the doctrine of the Trinity says that in the one divine substance are three distinct persons: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.
VultureTX says
so T&T have an 8% muslim population rate, is that also the highest rate in the Americas?
Wiki says Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 78,000 5.8%
and in South America
Guyana 55,000 7.2
Suriname 84,000 19.6
So maybe need to have more informants in some of these countries keeping a watch out.
gravenimage says
VultureTX, the article notes that Trinidad has the highest rate of Islamic State recruitment in the Americas–not that they have the largest Muslim population.
VultureTX says
But as noted on other watch sites, when muslims hit about 10% of the population they tend to start influencing society and pushing for sharia.
I just pointed out other nations (and called out the discrepancy on Trinidad) to caution that there are other places in the Americas where we should be concerned about Jihadist recruitment.
gravenimage says
Yes–Trinidad is not the only place where this is a threat.
Here’s one story from Suriname:
“Suriname Leader’s Son Gets 16 Years in U.S. Prison for Hezbollah Aid”
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/03/11/suriname-leaders-son-gets-16-years-in-u-s-prison-for-hezbollah-aid/
Peter Brock says
Trinidad? Not surprising the voodoo element is being tapped…
Oliver says
Why are we (the US, other civilized countries) stopping people from going to Iraq & Syria to join ISIS?
We should encourage them to go-just stay there-preferably dead.
Can work wonders for the gene pool. Solve overcrowding; solve other pressing issues. Women allowed to join, also. And be killed, also.
Unknown says
@Oliver And not letting them come back, right? Because as soon as they come back, they will try to spread Jihad on their own country.
Oliver says
Of course. Not letting them return.
gravenimage says
Agreed.
gravenimage says
Trinidad: Highest rate of Islamic State recruitment in Western hemisphere
…………………..
Nowhere is safe…
Benedict says
“The “designation” also proves that appearances (e.g. of calypso and carnival) are no indicator of how Islamized a Western country can be;” –
Calypso and carnival – i.e. putting on the flesh – could very well describe the Muslim paradise and also Islam as a religion of this world.
gravenimage says
Actually, Carnival means “farewell to the flesh”–narrowly, a reference to abstaining from meat during Lent, but more broadly to a focus on spiritual matters during this period. Carnivale is the “last hurrah” for worldly festivities before Lent and Easter.
Angemon says
Florida Jim says
This is how Islam works city by city, nation by nation Mosque by Mosque.The end is beheading of all non-muslims.