Noor Hassanali
President of Trinidad and Tobago from 1987 to 1997 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Noor Mohamed Hassanali TC (pronounced [nuːrə moːɦəmməd̪ə ɦəsənɑːliː]; 13 August 1918 – 25 August 2006)[2] was a Trinidadian lawyer, judge and politician who served as the second president of Trinidad and Tobago from 1987 to 1997. A retired high-court judge, he was the first person of Indian descent along with being the first Muslim to hold the office of President of Trinidad and Tobago, and he was the first Muslim head of state in the Americas.[3][4]
Noor Hassanali | |
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2nd President of Trinidad and Tobago | |
In office 20 March 1987 – 17 March 1997 | |
Prime Minister | A.N.R. Robinson Patrick Manning Basdeo Panday |
Preceded by | Ellis Clarke |
Succeeded by | A. N. R. Robinson |
Personal details | |
Born | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1918-08-13)13 August 1918[1] San Fernando, Colony of Trinidad and Tobago |
Died | 25 August 2006(2006-08-25) (aged 88) Westmoorings, Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago |
Resting place | Western Cemetery, St. James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
Citizenship |
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Nationality | Trinidadian and Tobagonian |
Political party | Independent |
Spouse |
Zalayhar Mohammed (m. 1952) |
Children |
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Occupation |
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Hassanali was president during the 1990 Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt when an Islamist group bombed the nation's police headquarters, stormed its Parliament and took the prime minister and his Cabinet hostage. Hassanali, who was visiting London at the time and remained there until the government regained control, aided in calming his fellow citizens and getting rule of law and democracy back on track on his return. His tenure, though largely ceremonial, was noted for its efforts to bridge the nation's racial divide and building consensus between various political parties.[5][6][7]