THE Islamic Council of Jamaica is to investigate reports that controversial Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, born Trevor William Forest, was putting together a group of Muslim followers on the island.

Council head Mustafa Muhammad said their information was that more than 70 followers are part of the breakaway group that does not form a part of the Islamic Council of Jamaica that represents, by their count, some 4,000 Muslims across the island.

"The information we are receiving is a cause for concern," he said, adding that their worry was due not to the group meeting but by what al-Faisal could teach the members.

"If it is Islam as it is to be taught, we have no problem. But if the teachings are contrary to what we believe therein lies the problem," Muhammad said.

Another concern, he noted, was that negative actions by the group could give other Muslims in Jamaica a bad name.

Al-Faisal was deported to Jamaica from Britain in 2007 for allegedly urging the killing of Americans, Hindus and Jews. He was at that time banned by the Islamic Council from preaching in any of their 10 mosques, after they met with him and discovered that his views differed from those of the local Muslim community. Al-Faisal subsequently left the island and returned in January when the Islamic Council opted to reinforce the ban on him.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Council is to meet today to discuss the plan presented as a solution to Jamaica's crime problem by one of its members Nedal Abunidal, who was accompanied by al-Faisal, on CVM TV's programme Direct.

Abunidal said on the programme that the 10-year plan, which he claimed received the blessing of the Council, would require that stakeholders and persons in the business community work together to provide 40,000 jobs to Jamaicans, some of them at risk, in the first year.

Muhammad now refutes the claim that the Council gave its stamp of approval to the plan. He said discussions were held with Abunidal on the plan but there was a breakdown in the talks and the Council decided it would have to be further reviewed before it could be endorsed. Muhammad was quick to add that their decision not to support the plan had nothing to do with al-Faisal's association with it.