The mother of Isis fighter, Abu Sa’d al Trinidadi (Shane Crawford), says there is nothing to fear as her son was never coming back to T&T.
The mother, who was not named, was speaking during an exclusive interview with CNC3’s anchor Golda Lee Bruce. The interview aired during last night’s 7 pm newscast. She expressed disappointment that her son’s was identified by local media as Crawford and thought the article should have referred to him as al Trinidadi.
“The people there have families here and we don’t know if there could be any repercussions,” she said. Asked if she knew where her son was and if they were in contact, she replied: “He is in Syria. We send voice messages to each other. He never said what he is doing there. He is in contact with his sister.”
Asked how she feels that her son has joined Isis given the photographs that were printed in the article, the mother replied: “I can see it can be that way. I don’t know. Allah is the judge. I don’t know if it is right or wrong. I don’t know if he is doing an honourable thing.”
Asked if she believes that those were all his words in the article, she said: “Some of it were his words but some of it I’m still pondering but knowing my son, his belief is his belief and if he has something to say he would.”
Crawford’s mother described him as a kind and loving child, who was best from birth. “He is a very brilliant child. When he sat his SEA exams he got five trophies. He got five or six subjects.
“He went to university where he did extra mural classes in foundation and drainage and he got an A. He is brilliant, loving, caring and family-oriented. Everybody portraying him as a big criminal but they don’t know anything about him,” she added.
Months after Crawford left T&T to join Isis, he asked Muslim brothers from the mosque that he attended in central Trinidad if they wanted to go with him. The response he got was a positive one but only because the brothers in the mosque thought that he (Crawford) was joking.
According to a Muslim brother from the mosque that Crawford attended, who wished not to be identified, it was only until Crawford went missing from mosque attendance, it was later disclosed to them that he had really left T&T for the Middle East for training and enrolment in the Islamic radical group.
Crawford grew up at Charles Street, Cunupia, and during a visit there yesterday, the T&T Guardian was informed that his family moved out of the area after they sold the plot of land and wooden structure they lived in.
One of the neighbours, who wished not to be identified, said the family was well known in the area. “They were very poor but lived a humble life and troubled no one.”
The neighbour said she admired Crawford, adding: “I remembered him perfectly going to school, neatly attired and well-mannered. He is a very handsome guy and I never knew him to be involved in any alcohol or liming on the block or even with girls. He seemed always focused on the positive side.”
Asked if she was shocked to hear he had left T&T to join Isis, the neighbour replied: “It is a shock. yes.”
A close childhood friend of Crawford, who also wished not to be identified, said he knew the family to be going to the Baptist Church.
“We all went to church together and I remembered playing with Shane in the yard, marble pitch and other games we used to play back then. He was always a cool fella,” he added.
Asked if he was shocked to hear that his childhood friend was now an Isis fighter, Crawford’s friend replied:
“Yes, but I believe that maybe he was influenced by an older close relative because he had converted to Islam way before Shane and he was always out of the country in Iraq and Dubai following Islam.
“Presently, I am hearing that the relative is in Egypt. Everyone has their choices at the end of the day and if this is his, well let’s all respect that.”