Trinidadian Islamic leader (1941–2021)
Yasin Abu Bakr (born Lennox Philip; 19 October 1941[1][2] – 21 October 2021)[3] was a Trinidadian religious leader who led the Jamaat al Muslimeen, a Muslim group in Trinidad and Tobago. The group staged an attempted coup d’état in 1990.
Life
Abu Bakr was born Lennox Philip in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in a suburb of Port-of-Spain as the eighth of fifteen children. He graduated from Queen's Royal College, and spent time on his tertiary studies in Toronto, Canada.
Abu Bakr converted to Islam, although there are two conflicting descriptions of how it took place. One story states it occurred in 1969 after an Egyptian preacher visited Trinidad.[4] The other story states it occurred in the early 1970s while still in Canada, and that he returned to Trinidad already converted in 1973. He changed his name shortly after converting.
In the 1970s he lived in Libya as a guest of Muammar Gaddafi.[4] Upon his return to Trinidad and Tobago he founded the Jamaat al Muslimeen.[4]
Abu Bakr collapsed and died at his home on 21 October 2021 at the age of 80.
Coup
In 1990, 100 of Abu Bakr's followers stormed the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago and took the Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson hostage.[4] Abu Bakr surrendered to police six days later, and spent two years in jail.[4]
Personal life
Abu Bakr's son, Fuad, later embarked on a political course, eventually becoming the leader of the New National Vision party, a minor political party founded in 1994 in Trinidad and Tobago. He unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a seat in the 2020 general elections. Another son of his, Radanfah, played football professionally.
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