The Radicalization of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, an Islamic Militant Group in Trinidad and Tobago
Abstract
The evolution of the Jamaat al Muslimeen (JAM) into a violent extremist group resulted in a deadly attempted coup d'etat attack on the government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1990, claiming the lives of 24 persons and causing injury to many. The attack impacted the entire Caribbean region and the Western Hemisphere. There were fears that similar attacks could be meted out in these regions by disenchanted groups. This thesis investigates the factors that contributed to the JAM's evolution from a social group to a radical group and then to a violent extremist one. It assesses Guyanas risk for such phenomena and makes recommendations on how to avert it. The thesis concludes that a combination of factors, specifically the Indianization of Islam, ethnic polarization, ideology, economic repression, and grievances, contributed to the evolution of the JAM. The praxis of Indianization of Islam was the primary factor that triggered the establishment of the group and effectively planted the seed of radicalization. As the other factors unfolded, they nurtured the radicalization process, which escalated to the deadly attempted coup d'etat on 27 July 1990. Sharing a similar identical historical, economic, and sociopolitical background with Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana is potentially susceptible to violent extremism, which necessitates appropriate actions by policymakers and other stakeholders to prevent the emergence of such groups in Guyana and the violence associated with them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1164929
Entities
People
- Raul Jerrick
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School