By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE owner of Price Club Supermarket in Chaguanas will not remove Hindu murtis from its shelves despite being told to do so by a Muslim organisation.
In a letter from the Real Street Jamaat, a branch of the Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat Association (ASJA), Trinidad and Tobago’s largest Muslim organisation, Haji Imtiaz Ali wrote to Chairman of the ASJA Imam’s Council Haji Kazim Ali asking him to ensure the items were removed from the supermarket.
Price Club Supermarket owner and Muslim Shamshard Ali told AZPNews.com that he will not be distracted by small issues when the country had much bigger issues to face including the rising Covid-19 deaths.
The letter has angered some members of the Hindu community.
Imtiaz Ali wrote, “ It is with deep regret and concern that I bring a matter to you for appropriate action. One of the students of the Haji Ruknudeen Institute of Islamic Studies informed me that she and her husband were shopping at the Price Club Supermarket and to their surprise, they saw Hindu murtis and other Hindu items on sale.
“I urge you to take action to inform our second vice president to remove these items from his business.”
Letter not meant to offend
Imtiaz Ali told AZPNews.com that the letter sent was an internal letter and he did not know how it was leaked on social media.
He said the letter was not meant to offend anyone.
“I did the letter in a humble way so as not to ruffle any feathers,” he said.
Imtiaz Ali said that as Muslims, owners of businesses are not allowed to sell pork- the religion’s forbidden meat as well as alcohol and artefacts from other religions.
He added that cigarettes in the olden days were considered “neither good nor bad” but with recent scientific research, it is being shown to be very harmful to the body and is also being discouraged from establishments owned by Muslims and was now considered to be “haram” in Islamic terminology.
Imtiaz Ali who issued the letter on Saturday said he was unsure as to what the outcome will be.
“He the owner has a choice. But we have to be our brother’s keeper,” Imtiaz Ali told AZPNews.com.
Supporting all races and religion
Price Club in a statement on Facebook described its establishment as a commercial entity with no affiliation to any religious organisation, which provided a family-oriented environment for all creeds and races.
Price Club stated, “As is the norm in the supermarket industry, whatever items that are offered for sale on our shelves (via rental of shelf and/or gondola space or by direct ownership) is based on the demand and needs of the consumer. The Price Club Supermarket is a commercial entity with no affiliation to any religious organisation.”
However, the supermarket questioned why other supermarkets that carry similar items were not requested to remove the same and questioned the motive behind the letter.
“The Price Club shall not entertain the utterances of any individual who devises to create disharmony and disunity of this cosmopolitan, harmonious rainbow nation that we all call home.”
Referring to Imtiaz Ali, the supermarket stated, “It is disconcerting and ironic that such a divisive individual serves in the capacity of one who is charged to create harmony, tolerance and understanding in our society. We trust that good sense shall prevail in this matter and expect that a public apology shall be forthcoming from Mr Haji Imtiaz Ali.”
“We stand resolute in our service and support of all communities in our blessed nation as we have done for the past 27 years,” the supermarket added.
When asked if there would be any penalties for the continued sale of such items, Imtiaz Ali responded, “ The penalty is to God.”
SDMS statement
In a brief statement to AZPNews.com, speaking on behalf of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha SDMS, Dinesh Rambally said, “On behalf of the SDMS what I can say is that we practice religious tolerance in this country and give the utmost respect to each other’s religious persuasions. The SDMS does not see the need to get involved at this time in the particular issue which arose between certain members of the Muslim community. At the end of the day, Trinbagonians have shown time and again that they are able to resolve issues amicably and they can put aside differences in the interest of putting people first. I am sure that is what will prevail even on this occasion.”
Internal matter for the Islamic community.