The local Shia Muslim
community has appealed to the
security services and Com-missioner of Police Winston Felix to
do more in the case of abducted college director Mohamed
Hussein Ibrahim.
Sheikh Salim Ibn Abdul Kadir, one of the local leaders,
made the appeal yesterday, expressing the concern of the group
that Ibrahim has not yet been found. Kadir is the head of the
Guyana Islamic Information Centre based in Linden.
Ibrahim, 35, director of the International Islamic College
for Advanced Studies (IICAS) was grabbed last Friday night by
two armed men from outside the college's premises at 42B
United Nations Place in what seemed a well-planned mission. He
has not been seen or heard from since.
Administrator of the college Raymond Halley, 51, who was
with Ibrahim, was shot in his heel as he attempted to flee his
director's abductors.
Kadir said yesterday the law enforcement authorities had
had five days to make some headway in the case. He appealed to
the government to lend its support in the probe. Kadir said
Halley was unable to provide any concrete information on the
abductors.
Kadir, who is a close friend of Ibrahim from his years
studying Islamic Theology in the Islamic Republic of Iran,
said the issue is being given prominence in the news in Iran.
Kadir, who is now carrying out the functions as senior Shia
leader in the absence of Ibrahim, is also appealing to members
of the public to cooperate with the police if they have any
information.
Classes at the college have been curtailed since the
abduction and a decision on the way forward is expected to
come from the Iranian authorities responsible for it.
Kadir also confirmed that there has been no contact or
calls from the person or persons responsible for abducting
Ibrahim. The only calls Ibrahim's wife and the community have
received are the daily ones from the Iranian Embassy in
Venezuela, Kadir said.
Shahnaz, Ibrahim's pregnant wife confirmed that she has
been contacted by the Iranian embassy located in Venezuela
about the current situation and the circumstances surrounding
the abduction.
She also disclosed that relatives from Iran are planning to
come to Guyana to support her during the ordeal.
Shahnaz had told Stabroek News that in addition to his work
at the school, her husband operates a distribution service
selling carpets and other products from Iran to local
retailers.
Questioned about threats the director may have received,
Kadir said he had never heard of him receiving any in the two
years or so he has been living in Guyana.
He said he felt personally responsible for his safety since
it was because of their close friendship that Ibrahim had come
to this country.
What was puzzling was the silence of other local Islamic
groups, Kadir said.
The IICAS was established about two years ago and is geared
towards the promotion of Islamic studies. It also offers
sewing and computer classes among others.
Police up to yesterday could only confirm that they are
continuing investigations.