Kidnapped Iranian cleric, Mohammed Hassan Ebrahami was tricked into going back to the college by a report of a bathroom leak. Confirmed reports out of the local Muslim community are that Ebrahami received a telephone call about the leak at the Islamic College, Brickdam and subsequently left his home.
He discovered there was no leak and while leaving was dragged from his car by a group of men who also shot and injured another official of the institution. He has not been seen since.
Local Shia leader, Sheik Salim Ibn Abdul Kadir told the media yesterday that a functionary within the Islamic College had telephoned Ebrahami. But Kadir denied claims that the kidnapping was an `inside job' and said he was only privy to certain facts, which are that Ebrahami did receive the call that night.
Kadir, of the Guyana Islamic Information Centre, was addressing questions at a joint press conference hosted by the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT).
He said Ebrahami was recruited by Iranian Muslim officials two years ago to run the International Islamic College of Advanced Studies (IICAS) at 42b United Nations Place, Brickdam. Ebrahami, who belongs to the Shia group of Muslims, has a Masters Degree in International Law and was also schooled in Islamic Theology.
Wazir Baksh of the GIT said there was no room for speculation since no additional information has surfaced.
However, officials are asserting that Ebrahami has not left the country. According to Baksh, the community is going on what Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj said.
Baksh said no ransom was demanded and no one in the community, including Ebrahami's pregnant wife, Shahnaz, was contacted regarding his whereabouts.
"The Muslim community is upset over the kidnapping. We hope the police will make speedy progress in investigating the abduction. However, until and unless this crime is solved, Muslims in Guyana, especially its leadership, remain unconvinced of their safety and protection from this or similar fate," Baksh said.
Lashing out at the government, Baksh said that pressure has to be applied before progress is made. He said that they are calling on the Iranian Government to apply the necessary pressure on local functionaries. He said in less than a week Iranian authorities are expected in the country to deal with the matter.
He said the community was counting on the force to solve the crime and offering the full co-operation of the Muslim community in the fight against this and any form of terror.
Addressing questions on the recent police raid at the ISA Islamic School in East Street, Baksh said the heavy-handed tactics used by the force were unnecessary.
He added that the detention of the principal, his deputy and other senior members of staff, including placing one of them in the lock-ups for more than an hour, indicated a blatant disregard on the part of the police.
According to Baksh, the raid has sullied the reputation of the entire Guyanese Muslim community. He said the school was not outside the ambit of the law, adding that they were solely condemning the manner in which the police went in.
He said further that the force needed to publicly admit that it acted on false information and that the ISA Islamic School and its staff have been cleared of any and all suspicion.
According to Deputy Principal, Agleema Rahaman, the police violated the sacred realms of the school during the raid by not removing their footwear before entering a sacred section of the institution.
The Muslim Youth League (MYL), the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA), the Imam Baqir Islamic Center, the Guyana Islamic Institute, the ISA Islamic School, the Hujjatul Ulamaa and the Diamond Darul Uloom supported the press conference.
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Correction
Friday, April 30th 2004
In the April 20 edition of the Stabroek News under the headline `Iranian cleric `tricked' into returning to school' it was inaccurately reported that an official of the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT), Wazir Baksh had said that pressure has to be applied on the government before progress is made. The statement was made by another speaker at the press conference. Stabroek News regrets the error and apologises to Mr Baksh and the GIT for any embarrassment caused.