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Tag: Caliphate

  • Singapore Detains First Woman For Radicalism Under ISA After She Planned To Join Islamic State

    Singapore Detains First Woman For Radicalism Under ISA After She Planned To Join Islamic State

    The 22-year-old preschool teacher had been posting pro-ISIS material online since 2014 and was also looking for a terror supporter in Syria to marry.

    SINGAPORE: Singapore has detained its first female citizen for radicalism under the Internal Security Act (ISA), said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday (June 12).

    Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari, a 22-year-old contract infantcare assistant with the PCF (PAP Community Foundation) Sparkletots preschool programme, was detained in June this year.

    Her radicalisation started in 2013 through online propaganda related to the Islamic State terrorist group, said MHA.

    “She began to believe that ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) represented the true spirit of Islam. Her radicalisation deepened over time,” a press release read. “This was exacerbated by a wide network of foreign online contacts which she developed. They included ISIS militants and supporters, some of whom have either been killed in Syria or arrested for terrorism-related activities.”

    Since 2014, Izzah actively posted and shared pro-ISIS material online. Several of her social media platforms were removed by administrators because of such content, but she created new ones.

    MHA said Izzah was also intent on joining ISIS and was actively planning to make her way to Syria, with her young child, to do so.

    “She supported ISIS’s use of violence to establish and defend its self-declared ‘caliphate’, and aspired to live in it,” said the ministry. “To this end, she said that since 2015, she was looking for ‘a Salafi or an ISIS supporter’ to marry and settle down with him and her child in Syria.”

    “She said she would support her husband if he fought for ISIS in Syria as she believed she would reap ‘heavenly rewards’ if he died in battle. With her ‘elevated status’ as a ‘martyr’s widow’, she felt she could (then) easily marry another ISIS fighter in Syria.”

    Izzah also said she was prepared to undergo military training and engage in armed combat to defend ISIS if called upon by the terrorist group to do so, MHA added.

    Her sister and parents – who are both freelance Quranic teachers – came to know of her radical postings in 2015 and her intention to join ISIS in Syria. They did not alert the authorities and tried on their own to dissuade her, but were unsuccessful.

    Izzah continued down the path of radicalism, said MHA, and in April this year, “boasted” to a contact that the Singapore authorities had not detected her.

    In its press release, the MHA reiterated that importance of family members and friends to let the authorities know of anyone they suspect is being radicalised or planning terror attacks.

     

    Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Western Control Of Muslims Is Over

    Western Control Of Muslims Is Over

    DURING the Christmas and New Year celebrations, most Western nations were placed on high alert for terrorist activities.
    Only a decade or two ago, these nations celebrated the year-end festivities peacefully.
    Why has this change occurred?
    To understand, one has to refer to conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East.
    That Muslims are fighting back against aggressors was evident from the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which was followed by al-Qaeda’s Sept 11 attacks in the United States.
    The West is learning a painful lesson that the days of passive Muslim resistance are over and that they can take on the West.
    The urge in the West to subjugate Muslim nations has stirred up in Muslims their right to defend their religion.
    This has spawned militant groups, the deadliest being the Islamic State terrorist group.
    The IS ideology of setting up a caliphate —a super state ranging from Northern Africa to the Middle East — has found favour with many Muslims, who view that the fragmented Islamic world has triggered Western intervention and that the best weapon is unity with a syariah system in place.
    To Muslims, the caliphate of old is reminiscent of the golden age of Islam, when Muslims were in the forefront.
    IS points out the cause of Islamic decline and that the only way to stop Western interference and dominance is for Islamic countries to unite under a caliphate with syariah as the national law. More than any other religion, Islam has a unique set of laws and is considered a way of life for Muslims.
    Islamic law is second to none in its simplicity, complexity and sense of justice. Hence, Muslim nations have no need for Western ideologies, which are at odds with syariah.
    This concept is opposed by the West, which profits from its divideand-rule policy used against Muslims.
    The West needs to stop its interference via regime change. Left to themselves, Muslim nations will stabilise and adopt a system that works for them and their religion.
    Leave Muslim countries alone and there will be peace in the world, especially in Western capitals.
    The West can offer socio-economic aid as well as humanitarian assistance to Muslim nations but must refrain from interference and domination.
    The age of subjugation is long gone.
    V. THOMAS
    Sungai Buloh, Selangor
  • Global Survey: Most Will Trade Freedom For Security

    Global Survey: Most Will Trade Freedom For Security

    Most people think that violent terrorism is a major challenge facing their societies and they support tough measures to counter the problem at the expense of some civil liberties, according to a global survey on public perceptions towards violent terrorism commissioned by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington.

    According to the findings released earlier this week — derived from 8,000 respondents in eight countries — one in two people feel that their governments have not taken adequate steps to address violent extremism.

    The survey was conducted in August this year and involved participants from China, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Around 25 per cent of the respondents from Turkey and France felt that violent terrorism is the most important issue facing their countries. Overall, around two-thirds of those polled see violent extremism as a major problem in their country.

    “In everywhere except China, at least 75 per cent of those surveyed expect a terrorist attack in the next year,” said CSIS in a report of the survey findings.

    “On a more alarming note, a majority in every country believes that it is likely that violent extremist groups will acquire and use weapons of mass destruction in their lifetime.”

    The majority of respondents in Turkey, France and the US feel their own governments have not taken adequate steps to contain and prevent violent extremism.

    In late June, a gun and bomb attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport killed more than 40 people and injured more than 230. Yesterday, a Turkish official said police in the capital had fatally shot a suspected Islamic State (IS) group militant who was planning a suicide bombing.

    France has also been hit hard by violent terrorism, with 230 deaths and about 700 injuries as a result of attacks said to be carried out by IS.

    Both France and Turkey are both sources of a relatively high number of foreign militants fighting in Iraq and Syria, with an estimated 700 French citizens and 500 Turks fighting under the IS flag.

    Just last month, an Afghan-born American sowed terror across Manhattan and New Jersey, wounding 29 people before he was arrested — the latest in a spate of lone-wolf attacks to rock the US.

    Despite widespread anxiety about the terrorist threat, 73 per cent of respondents in the CSIS survey believe that violent extremism can be eradicated.

    When asked about potential measures to counter violent extremism, 90 per cent were in favour of requiring all citizens and visitors to have identification cards.

    A similar percentage also supported asking Internet companies to do an even better job of shutting down all content from violent extremist groups, while 71 per cent favoured allowing government agencies to monitor all phone records, email and social media for contacts with terrorists.

    Close to 90 per cent of the sample was also supportive of asking Muslim leaders to declare definitively that Islam does not in any way condone violent extremism or the creation of a caliphate. More than 80 per cent of those surveyed also said that immigrants who have not passed rigorous screenings and background checks for connections to extremism should be barred from entering their countries.

    On Monday, Iraqi forces, supported by a US-led international coalition, launched a major offensive on the city of Mosul, the IS’ last major stronghold in Iraq.

    The US expects IS to use crude chemical weapons as it tries to repel the offensive, although experts say the group’s technical ability to develop such weapons is highly limited.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Another Malaysian ISIS Member Died in Syria After Ambush by Syrian Forces

    Another Malaysian ISIS Member Died in Syria After Ambush by Syrian Forces

    Former Kedah PAS Youth information chief Lotfi Ariffin reportedly died today in Syria after succumbing to his injuries, according to a Malaysian fighting in the Middle East.

    The news of Lotfi’s death was posted on the Facebook account of Abu Talhah II, one of the 40-odd Malaysians fighting alongside Islamic State of Iraq and Syria forces.

    Facebook users posted condolences in the comment section upon reading of the death of Lotfi, who had been injured after an ambush by Syrian forces.

    Lotfi had reportedly been with a group of Malaysian Isis fighters when they were caught in an ambush by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

    During the fight, Lotfi suffered severe injuries and fell into a coma, although his condition was later reported to be stable.

    His older brother, Mohd Zainon Ariffin, 53, had confirmed Lotfi’s condition last week, saying he had been informed that his sibling appeared to be recovering.

    Zainon said he had been informed of Lotfi’s condition by his brother’s friends through Facebook although no images had been uploaded.

    Lotfi  courted controversy in June when he disclosed his involvement in the ongoing civil war in Syria.

    This resulted in his sacking from PAS as the Islamist party said it did not condone nor encourage its members to participate in armed movements.

    Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ex-pas-member-lotfi-ariffin-killed-in-syria#sthash.6H0DwhoW.dpuf

  • Could ISIS Launch Attacks on Malaysia and Indonesia?

    Could ISIS Launch Attacks on Malaysia and Indonesia?

    ISIS_2

    ISIS, which now refers to itself as the Islamic State and has claimed the title of Caliphate, has already made it clear that it wants to claim rule over the Muslim world. Now, security officials in both Malaysia and Indonesia claim that ISIS is attracting followers in said countries. How serious is the threat? And could ISIS actually launch global strikes?

    Hundreds of years ago caliphates did rule over most of the Islamic world, though they were often more well-known for their moderation, rather than extremism. ISIS is trying to revive the wide sweeping power of the Caliphate, though they are bastardizing it with extremism and increasing attacks against non-Muslims.

    Security Threat Real Even If Challenge To Power Isn’t

    Whatever ISIS might dream of, the organization simply isn’t in the position to build a global empire. The organization is still small, and its scope is largely limited to Syria and Iraq. Its followers are radicalized and ready to die for their cause. This does allow ISIS to exert a lot of power locally, but expanding that power internationally will be difficult.

    That doesn’t mean, however, that ISIS won’t find supporters abroad. Radical groups tend to attract alienated individuals, and every society has its alienated individuals. Authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia now fear that ISIS will be able to use these individuals to launch attacks within South East Asia.

    Terrorist attacks, by their very nature, focus on creating fear, rather than high casualties. While ISIS might not be able to ever sieze control of territory in Malaysia or Indonesia, that doesn’t mean the organization can strike fear into the hearts of citizens. Indeed, it only takes a single radical to launch an attack.

    Malaysia Is A Prime Targeting

    Malaysia is recognized across the world for being a moderate Muslim country. The rights of other religions and minorities are generally respected, even if tensions do exist. The brand of Islam practiced in the country tends to be more moderate, and individual choices are usually left to individuals.

    Terrorist activities, however, appear to be on the rise. Over the last several months Malaysia has managed to arrest 19 different suspects for being involved in terrorist activities. There are fears, however, that this may just be scratching at the surface.

    Malaysian security officials claim that the government is among the prime targets of the terrorists. As a moderate Islamic government that offers a clear alternative to the extremism espoused by ISIS, the Malaysian government would indeed be a prime target.

    At least 20 Malaysians have gone to fight for ISIS.

    Indonesia ISIS

    Indonesia Also Worried About ISIS

    Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim majority country, home to nearly 250 million people. Over 87 percent of Indonesians are Muslim, so the country is a prime target for radical groups like ISIS. Indonesian authorities have already had to deal with radical threats in the past, though usually they’ve been domestic groups.

    Perhaps the most famous domestic terrorist, Abu Bakar Bashir, the now jailed leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, an Al Queda-linked terrorist group, has expressed support for ISIS. Jemaah Islamiya carried out the 2002 Bali bombings that claimed the lives of more than 200 people.

    Indonesia is undergoing a rapid period of modernization, which is likely creating a clash of cultures. With rampant poverty and a growing gap between the rich and the poor, the country is also a fertile recruiting ground for radicals looking for new recruits. It should come as no surprise then that at least 56 Indonesians have joined the ranks of ISIS.

    Indeed, ISIS is reportedly able to pay each of its fighters up to $250 dollars a month. While this wage might not seem like much, for people from poorer countries, like Indonesia, this can be quite substantial.

    Source: http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/08/malaysia-and-indonesia-in-cross-hairs-of-isis-terrorists/

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