Friday, January 26, 2007

by Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Owner and broadcaster of Trinidad and Tobago's lone Islamic television station, Ishan Ishmael, has been released after being arrested for allegedly attempting to lead an illegal demonstration against the state.

Ishmael was released hours after his attorneys secured a TT$10,000 bail bond in his favour.

Ishmael who owns and operates the Islamic Broadcasting Network (IBN) in east Trinidad, had been planning a two-day shut down of the country, with the support of the business community, as a protest against crime and criminal activity.

However, the day before the protest was due to take place, he was forcibly taken from his office by four heavily-armed plain clothes police officers.

Ishmael was initially detained under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Islamic Broadcasting Network (IBN) last week also had one of its controversial programmes called "Breaking Barriers" pulled off the air by local cable company, Columbus Communications.

The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago said they had received complaints about certain statements made at different times during the programme, considered to be in contravention of the Telecommunications Act.

Broadcaster Ishmael is now back with his family after being released but vows to continue leading more protests. He has threatened next time to lead a seven-day shut down of the country this time, with the full support of the business community.

Ishmael has been one of the country's leading social activists protesting against rising crime in the country. But on Wednesday he was arrested under the country's anti-terrorism act for allegedly failing to identify the printer's name on handbills that were being distributed for the planned two-day shut down.

Ishmael is to return to court at a later date.

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