Wrongful detention in Guyana cut my income off – Akbar Muhammad

Oct 24, 2014 News

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– Professor says compensation and apology overdue

By Zena Henry

Akbar Muhammad, an Associate Professor of History and African Studies, but better known for his association with the Nation of Islam, as the international representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan, says he has lost income as a result of his wrongful detention in Guyana back in May 2011.
Since Muhammad was arrested by local security agents some 28 months ago, and accused of being involved in terrorism and drug running, he claims his income has been cut significantly due to the stain the incident cast on him.
During a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday morning, Muhammad said that the Guyana government is yet to respond to correspondence sent both by local and foreign lawyers about the matter.
The Professor opined that he is due compensation from the government since he can no longer earn efficiently through his trade.
“I absolutely want compensation, because you (government) cut my income off. When I go to a colleague, people Google you, and when they Google me, the first thing they see is that I was detained in Guyana and accused of being a drug runner and a terrorist. Do you think that the professors who control most of the institutions want me to go in and talk to the students?”
Muhammad said that the government was sent correspondence six months after the incident occurred, and another 12 months later, but still no reply.
At the time of Muhammad’s arrest, he had said that he was in the country to conduct lectures on dysfunctional families, drugs and crime, among other social issues. He had come in his capacity as Professor and as a representative of the Nation of Islam. He said on the night of his arrest, around 02:30 hours, there was a knock on the door and the persons outside identified themselves as ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Muhammad said he refused to open the door until the individuals called out their full names. He recounted that they vowed to break down the room door if he didn’t comply with their instruction. After opening the door, he said the CID ranks told him that (America’s) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) gave them word that he “is a terrorist and a drug runner”.
He said that although he knew the allegations to be “ridiculous” he complied and went to the CID headquarters where he was questioned. Later, Guyanese citizen and a member of the Nation of Islam, Phillip Solomon Mohammed got word of Muhammad’s detention and went to explain the situation. However, he too was arrested, as well as Tyrone Seymour who later went to CID also trying to clarify the matter.
After describing the terrible condition of the cell, Muhammad said it wasn’t until another member of the local Nation of Islam body, Dennis Mohamed, made contact with Minister Farrakhan, who later contacted then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, that he was released.
However, what was most surprising, the Muslim representative said, was that even before he was placed in the prison cell, the news about his detention was in America on CNN. He said he was still sitting on the bench when his daughter called to find out if he was alright since the details of the incident had been televised. Muhammad said he is unaware of the political dynamics of his arrest, “so I demanded an apology, and with an apology comes compensation. Why should I be compensated? Because I speak and lecture to groups and on colleage campuses throughout America”.
Apart from that, Muhammad said that the United States, through its Embassy here, has already stated that they gave no information about him being a terrorist to the local authorities, therefore “the onus is on Guyana to make things right”.
“I am not going to go away quietly until God takes my life, because my position is correct. You’re gonna deal with it, because I have definitely been civil in this matter,” Muhammad stated. The Professor indicated that in the same way information was sent to CNN about his detention, an apology for the whole incident should have been sent back to the same source to be aired.
Muhammad said he believes the act against him was orchestrated since “one does not sit on a bench to be questioned and shortly after it is being aired around the world that I was detained for drug running and terrorism.” Muhammad claimed to have been made aware that the Former President, Jagdeo, despite several letters from persons around the world pertaining to the incident, has vowed never to apologise. He further pointed out that the Ramotar Administration has never made contact or sought to address the matter.
Muhammad will be seeking an audience with the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) after it was suggested that he do so. When asked, Muhammad said that the only local support he has received since the incident is from the local Nation of Islam arm and other brothers of the Faith. Muhammad said that if his demands are not met he will engage in further consultation with his lawyers, “but there will be a course of action.”

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