Muslim Leadership In VI Condemns Illegal Removal Of U.S. And VI Flags And ‘Allah’ Replacement

ST. THOMAS — Following an incident at the entrance of the Cyril E. King Airport this morning, where it was discovered that the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands and nine other flags that normally hang high on a welcome monument were replaced with black flags bearing the name “Allah” on them, the president of the Virgin Islands Islamic Society, Omar Idheileh, renounced the illegal and provocative action in a statement issued to The Consortium Friday afternoon.

In the statement, Mr. Idheileh said the Muslim community “renounces the actions of the individual or individuals or individuals responsible for taking down the U.S. and V.I. flags at the St. Thomas airport and replacing them with a flag that read “Allah”. This action is disturbing and is against our religious teachings and it has caused unease to the Virgin Islands Muslim communities on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Both communities have spoken to the authorities to help bring the perpetrator to justice. The Muslin communities on St. Croix and St. Thomas have lived here for decades in peace and security with Virgin Islanders, and we hope and strive for it to remain like this. We are one community under the leadership of the U.S. government, and we will always uphold that as Muslims. This is what our religion teaches us.”

In a release issued at 10:28 this morning, the Virgin Islands Port Authority said it had launched an investigation into the removal of the flags. The authority said its law enforcement officers reported that upon arrival to the airport early this morning, they noticed that all the flags were removed from the 11 poles at the monument and replaced with black flags. The flags have since been removed.

The Port Authority said it has reported the incident to the F.B.I., the Transportation Security Administration (T.S.A.) and the Virgin Islands Police Department.

“The matter is still under investigation. Security at the airport has been heightened. The Cyril E. King Airport will remain open and functioning as normal, and all flights will arrive and depart as scheduled,” the Port Authority release said.

Although rumors were circulating that at least one of the flags included the terrorist group ISIS’s name, Monifa Brathwaite, V.I.P.A. public information officer, said, “None of the flags have ISIS on it. They were all identical flags as shown in the photos.”