Abdul Kadir laid to rest

Jul 13, 2018 News

Abdul Kadir

A cloud of grief enveloped Linden ever since the news of the death of Abdul Kadir.

Yesterday he was interred at the Christianburg Cemetery, following Janaza at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. Kadir was accorded full Muslim rites.

A former mayor of Linden, Parliamentarian and well respected citizen of the community, Kadir died last week in a US jail, where he was serving a life sentence for terrorist activities. One of Kadir’s sons – Imam Salim Kadir – asked relatives and friends to ask God’s forgiveness for his father.

“As Muslims, this is one part of our culture, whenever we come to a funeral, we ask the father to show mercy or to have mercy on the deceased. So I would just like to ask you to ask God to forgive my father and our brother and may his soul rest in peace.”

Imam Sahid, in echoing the sentiments shared by one of Kadir’s daughters taken from the Quran, pointed out, “Do not assume those that give away their lives in the way of Allah as they are dead – they are alive – they are seeking sustenance – a special sustenance from Almighty Allah.

He pointed to the sacrifices made by Kadir, which he said was his legacy to the community.

Jaffar Mohammed, who chaired the proceedings, underscored the fact that Kadir had maintained his innocence until the end. Mohammed said that such a stance is unlike any Muslim that is guilty, as Muslims are known to take ownership for what they do.

Kadir was a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the People’s National Congress Reform from 2001 -2006.

“Having served as Mayor of Linden from 1994 to 1996, he will live on not only in the minds of his immediate family but his fellow Muslims and the entire Linden community,” his son said.

Kadir died at age 66 in prison in the United States last week. He’d been in jail since 2007 serving a life sentence, for a crime he swore he did not commit.

Born Aubrey Michael Seaforth, Kadir converted to Islam in 1974 and changed his name.

He worked as a chemical engineer with the local bauxite Company in Linden for a number of years..

In 2007, Kadir was arrested in Trinidad in connection with an alleged plot to blow up jet-fuel supply tanks and pipeline at JFK. He was arrested on June 2 that year, while en route to Caracas, Venezuela, where he planned to pick up a visa to attend an Islamic conference in Iran.

The United States government alleged that Kadir was associated with the Trinidad-based Jamaat al Muslimeen, a militant Muslim group. After being arrested in Trinidad and Tobago, he was extradited to the United States.

On August 2, 2010, Kadir – along with Russell De Freitas – was convicted in a jury trial for the JFK airport bomb plot.

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