Tag: Islam

Self-Radicalised Persons In Singapore

The Ministry of Home Affairs said on Wednesday that it had detained a 19-year-old self-radicalised Singaporean student who was planning to join terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and planning attacks here, and arrested another radicalised youth, aged 17, for further investigations.

The two were the youngest individuals to have been picked up for being self-radicalised in Singapore.

Self-radicalisation is when individuals are influenced by terrorist ideology through reading or viewing materials, usually online, rather than being recruited by terrorist groups. Instances of this happening in Singapore date back almost a decade.

We take a look at these past instances of self-radicalised individuals who were detained under Singapore’s Internal Security Act and how they got drawn in to radical ideology.

1. Abdul Basheer Abdul Kader

The former lawyer was detained in 2007 at the age of 28.

He went to top schools like Raffles Institution and National Junior College before graduating from the National University of Singapore.

He practised law at a top firm here and later became a polytechnic lecturer.

His militant views were shaped by the Internet and in 2006, he left for a Middle East country to learn Arabic for communicating with “mujahidin” fighters.

Very soon, the extremist propaganda on the Net so influenced him that he bought a plane ticket to Pakistan, where he planned to get training for a militant jihad or holy war and to go into Afghanistan and join the Taleban.

He was released in 2010 under Restriction Order, but rearrested in 2012 after he was found to have reverted to his past interest in undertaking militant jihad abroad.

While still under the post-release supervision regime, Abdul Basheer made enquiries as to how he could leave Singapore, illegally if necessary, to pursue his earlier agenda. He had made plans to take up arms against foreign military presence in places including Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Syria.

Factors contributing to his relapse include the surfing of radical websites that propagated virulent extremist ideology, and political events in Middle-Eastern countries

He is still under detention.

2. Muhammad Fadil Abdul Hamid

The full-time national serviceman was detained in 2010 at the age of 20.

He had zealously surfed the Internet for jihadist propaganda and videos while studying in a local polytechnic and later made contact online with a known radical, Anwar Al-Awlaki, and with an Al-Qaeda recruiter who encouraged him to fight in Afghanistan.

He also searched for bomb-making information online, and posted a self-made video glorifying martyrdom and justifying suicide bombing. He was undergoing section leader training in SAF’s Pasir Laba Camp when he was arrested.

Fadil was released under Restriction Order in 2012.

3. Muhammad Zamri Abdullah and Maksham Mohd Shah

They were both 26 at the time their detentions were announced in 2008.

Zamri was self-radicalised through propaganda in publications, videos and the Internet. He had even gone overseas to join a “mujahidin network”, so he could wage armed jihad overseas and die a martyr.

Like Zamri, Maksham also actively consumed radical propaganda in various media.

Inspired by news footages that showed Molotov cocktails being used in attacks, he then experimented with making improvised explosive devices using material found in sparklers. He even travelled overseas to source for other materials commonly used to make such devices.

In 2012, Zamri was released under Restriction Order.

In 2013, Maksham was released on Suspension Direction, meaning he may be detained again if he does not meet conditions of his release.

4. Asyrani Hussaini

He was 24 when he was detained in 201 3 after trying to join Thai rebels in their armed insurgency.

Asyrani had been radicalised by Internet literature and “pursued specific action” to participate in the insurgency, where Muslim separatists have been battling for autonomy.

He was unsuccessful in attempts to link up with the rebels, and entered another regional country – which the ministry did not name – illegally.

There, he was arrested and convicted of immigration offences, and deported back to Singapore.

He is still under detention.

5. Muhammad Thahir Shaik Dawood

He was placed on Restriction Order in 2010 at the age of 27.

While this does not amount to detention, he had to abide by several conditions. For instance, they cannot change jobs, move or leave Singapore without the prior approval of the director of the Internal Security Department.

He had gone to Yemen to seek out Awlaki, an English-speaking United States-born radical cleric, with the intention of joining an armed jihad overseas. He also enrolled in an educational institution run by an associate of Osama bin Laden’s. However, he failed to get in touch with Awlaki.

After some time in Yemen, Thahir had a change of heart about armed jihad. He came round to the view that there were other ways of doing jihad, like pursuing knowledge and performing good deeds. He also withdrew from the Yemeni educational institution.

The RO placed on him was allowed to lapse in 2015.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

May 31, 2015
Combating Self-Radicalisation: What Are The Signs, What Can Family And Friends Do?

What are the signs to look out for?

Following the recent arrests of two self-radicalised youths, there have been calls for the community to play a part in identifying persons who might have been influenced by extremist propaganda, and to alert the authorities.

Experts said there are telltale signs that family members and friends can look out for.

Dr Munidasa Winslow, a psychiatrist at Novena Medical Centre, said this could be a sudden change, like spending more and more time on religious practices.

Typically, the individual is also likely to be withdrawn, secretive and spend a lot of time online.

Said psychologist Carol Balhetchet: “Family or friends or neighbours would say something and they would walk away or get very aggressive about it, and be very opinionated about something… The main sign is they isolate themselves and don’t seem to have many friends.”

Dr Lim Boon Leng, a psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said most of these individuals “are marginalised” and probably neglected by their parents. “They don’t have people to turn to or mentor to turn to,” he added.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari, a former school principal, said the “trigger point” to report someone to the authorities is knowing that he or she is sympathetic to the ideas of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). “Sympathising with the ISIS cause is, I believe, the first step in terms of wanting to join in the terrorist cause,” he added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs told The Straits Times that when a report is made, initial investigations will be carried out. In appropriate cases, the person may be referred for counselling and other mitigation measures without the need for arrest.

Counselling or rehabilitation programmes are tailored to the person’s specific circumstances, including age, it said. Should it be necessary, the person could be arrested for further investigations. But this will depend on the extent of radicalisation, and the risk and potential threat the person poses.

What is the typical profile of a teen vulnerable to being radicalised?

Teenagers who are isolated from their families, who do not feel close to their loved ones, or who are detached from their social communities such as schools, can be easily influenced by radical ideology from terror groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, said Dr Carol Balhetchet, a clinical psychologist and senior director for youth services at the Singapore Children’s Society.

“These are the same sort of young people who would join gangs, because they do not feel committed or feel like a part of their social group,” she said. “They may be loners in school or loners in their family unit. These teens are the ones who would easily fall prey to outside influence.”

Dr Kumar Ramakrishna, head of policy studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said some young people who are unemployed or bored may also be susceptible as they seek adventure and excitement abroad.

Psychiatrist Lim Boon Leng added that teenagers can also lack the ability to understand the consequences of their actions while acting on impulse.

“The immediate gain that they see from joining an extremist group, such as the sense of glory or the reinforcement they get, are very attractive to them. They do not think about what is going to happen to them in five years or even in one year,” said Dr Lim.

“It is this impulsiveness that sometimes tips them over and makes them decide to do something to prove themselves to these extremist groups.”

What can parents and others do?

Parents play a key role in keeping their children on the straight and narrow.

For a start, they can take greater interest in what their children are doing and pay more attention to what they are exposed to on the Internet, experts say.

Dr Lim Boon Leng, a psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, suggested: “Keep the computer or devices out in the open, so that the parents can see what they are doing.”

Parents also have to sit their children down for a talk if they suspect that something is amiss.

Dr Munidasa Winslow, a psychiatrist at Novena Medical Centre, said they can start by asking open-ended questions such as what they think about radical beliefs, for example.

“It also depends on how much they trust you to talk to you about it. It is a bit like having a conversation about sex. There must be a safe place, a safe time and a safe person,” he added.

However, in doing so, experts said parents should not judge or victimise their children.

“Try to understand what is the reason he is being radicalised. Is it because the parents are not paying enough attention, or is there bullying in school, is he being ostracised or having other social issues at hand?” Dr Lim said.

There could also be other reasons, for instance, the individual may have psychiatric conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depression.

Nevertheless, the “best thing” to do is to seek professional help as family members may not be able to deal with the issue, said Dr Carol Balhetchet, senior director for youth services at the Singapore Children’s Society.

“Bring them to the family service centre, bring them to a government agency or authority who is equipped to refer them to more professional help or the right authority to contain the situation,” she said.

Why is extremist propaganda so attractive to teens?

Propaganda put out by ISIS to sell concepts like the Islamic State, the Caliphate and their call for Muslims to migrate to Syria is portrayed in a jazzed-up manner that captures the imagination of some youth, said Mr Mohamad Alami Musa, the Head of Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme at RSIS.

These ideals are not part of mainstream Islamic teaching, but have been made even more appealing by the high-quality videos uploaded and widely-shared online by the terrorist group.

“The ideology has been packaged with such gloss, sound and colour. The content is also being distributed with the clever use of social media, which resonates with young people,” he said.

“These things are attractive to young minds who have this idealism of wanting to change the world. Such content makes it very tempting to be swayed by such virulent ideology.”

Psychiatrist Lim Boon Leng says the violent images shown by ISIS can also be a reflection of the power the group has, and this might attract youth in search of strong and protective figures.

“Marginalised youth who feel that they are vulnerable within their own communities may think that these extremist groups can help protect them,” he said.

The promise of having a better life by joining a terrorist group may also appeal to some youth, especially if they are isolated from their families or society, added Dr Carol Balhetchet.

“It is the promise of things to come, versus what they have right now,” she said.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

May 30, 2015
19 Year Old Planned To Join Syria, Intended To Kill President And Prime Minister

The 19-year-old student detained last month for planning to join terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) intended to kill President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong if he could not leave Singapore for Syria, Mr Lee disclosed on Friday.

His comments, in a speech at the opening of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, come two days after the Ministry of Home Affairs announced it had detained M Arifil Azim Putra Norja’i, and arrested another 17-year-old student who had been radicalised for further investigations.

The ministry had said Arifil gave considerable thought to how he would attack key facilities and assassinate government leaders, but did not go into details.

On Friday, Mr Lee said of his case: “This is why Singapore takes terrorism, and in particular ISIS, very, very seriously. The threat is no longer over there, it is over here.”

Mr Lee also announced that Singapore’s deployment of a KC-135 tanker refueling aircraft to the Middle East started on Friday. The tanker is part of Singapore’s participation in the international coalition against ISIS.

In his speech, Mr Lee said terrorism was not an entirely new phenomenon, and various politically-motivated terror groups have largely faded away.

But the problem of jihadi terrorism will be around for a long time, and many societies were now finding home-grown terrorists and self-radicalised individuals who can mount attacks with minimal resources.

ISIS has managed to exploit the Internet and social media to attract over 20,000 foreign fighters from all over the world, who will pose a threat when they return.

ISIS supporters have carried out lone-wolf attacks in a number of countries, and two weeks ago, ISIS leader Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi repeated a call for Muslims to migrate to the Islamic state or wage war in their home countries, Mr Lee added.

ISIS has also said it intends to establish a wilayat, or province under the caliphate, in South-east Asia, which has become a key recruitment centre for the group. Over 500 Indonesians and dozens of Malaysians have joined ISIS, and its Malay Archipelago combat unit, Katibah Nusantara, has been active on social media.

Radical groups in the region have also pledged their allegiance, including Jemaah Islamiah spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir, whose followers in Singapore planned to set off truck bombs after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on America.

Several hundred terrorists in jail in Indonesia are also due to be released in the next two years, Mr Lee said.

“The idea that ISIS can turn South-east Asia into a province of a worldwide Islamic caliphate controlled by ISIS, that is a grandiose, pie-in-the-sky dream,” Mr Lee added.

“But it is not so far-fetched that ISIS could establish a base somewhere in the region, in a geographical area under its physical control like in Syria and Iraq, somewhere far from the centres of power of state governments, somewhere where the governments’ writs does not run.

“And there are quite a few such places in South-east Asia. If ISIS did that, it would pose a very serious threat to the whole of South-east Asia.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

May 30, 2015
Golongan Belia Punya Peranan Cegah Radikalisme

Beberapa pemimpin pelajar dan wakil belia melahirkan rasa sedih dan bimbang selepas mendengar berita dua remaja menjadi radikal sendiri setelah dipengaruhi ideologi ganas kumpulan militan Negara Islam di Iraq dan Syria (Isis) yang tersebar di Internet.

Mereka juga melahirkan rasa terkejut seorang daripada mereka mahu melakukan serangan ke atas orang awam di negara ini.

Presiden Persatuan Muslim Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUS), Muhammad Faiz Rosli, 23 tahun, berkata: “Kami rasa amat sedih dengan apa yang berlaku. Ia juga amat mengejutkan kerana pemimpin dan masyarakat Islam kita telah banyak berusaha untuk mengajar erti Islam sebenar kepada orang Islam dan bukan Islam di sini.

“Kami berharap peristiwa ini tidak akan menghapuskan usaha mereka, dan kita harus bekerjasama untuk menyatukan masyarakat kita. Kelakuan ISIS tidak wajar dan boleh memusnahkan. Kita harus buat apa yang patut untuk menghalang dan menghentikan kelakuan pengganas ini demi ajaran Islam sebenar.

“Persatuan pelajar atau belia boleh bekerjasama dengan badan-badan pemerintah atau badan-badan lain untuk meningkatkan mutu program mereka.

“Kita tidak boleh mengumpulkan belia di bawah satu label tanpa memahami kepelbagaiannya. Belia terdiri daripada banyak kumpulan, seperti pelajar universiti, maktab rendah, politeknik, madrasah dan sebagainya. Kita harus memahami kumpulan individu ini dan menjaga mereka secara berasingan.”

Seorang lagi pemimpin pelajar, Encik Mohamed Hamzah Mohamed Abdul Kadir, 24 tahun, berkata: “Saya berasa amat sedih dan terkejut ada orang sebegini dalam masyarakat kita. Ia juga membimbangkan kerana kita masih tidak tahu berapa ramai lagi di luar sana mempunyai niat sama.

Setiausaha Persatuan Islam Universiti Teknologi Nanyang (NTU) itu menyarankan mereka yang mempunyai niat sebegitu supaya pergi ke kelas-kelas agama di masjid-masjid terlebih bagi mendapatkan pengetahuan Islam yang betul dan “jangan terlalu mengikut apa yang ada di media sosial”.

Seorang pelajar madrasah, Sofiyyah Mohd Kamal, 17 tahun, berkata Isis sebenarnya kumpulan pengganas yang menggunakan Islam.

“Perbuatan Isis tidak sejajar dengan prinsip dan ajaran Islam. Sebagai contoh, Islam tidak membenarkan membunuh orang tidak berdosa atau melakukan pengganasan.”

Mengenai cara pelajar boleh bantu menentang ideologi dan propaganda Isis, Sofiyyah berkata usaha perlu dipertingkat bagi menggalak orang ramai, termasuk beliau, mendalami ajaran Islam sebenar.

“Kita juga boleh memberi nasihat kepada rakan-rakan dan anggota keluarga agar mereka elak daripada mendekati kumpulan pengganas ini di Internet,” ujarnya.

Duta Pelajar Siti Aishah Amirrudin, 17 tahun, yang sedang mengikuti kursus Nitec komputer dan perangkaian di Institut Pendidikan Teknikal Kolej Timur, berkata orang harus disedarkan bahawa bahawa ideologi Isis menyeleweng daripada ajaran Islam.

“Kita beragama jadi kita seharusnya tahu mana yang baik dan mana yang buruk. Kita tidak boleh mudah terpengaruh oleh semua ini (ideologi Isis).

“Nasihat saya bagi belia ialah jangan terlalu percaya apa yang dilihat di media sosial. Jika ada perkara yang mereka kurang faham berkaitan agama atau ajaran tertentu, tanyalah orang-orang bertauliah seperti asatizah,” kata beliau.

Seorang lagi pelajar madrasah, Shafirah Nazreen Mohammed Ali, 17 tahun, berkata tindakan Isis mencemarkan imej Islam serta membahayakan umat Islam dan bukan Islam.

“Tindakan radikal Isis hanya menghalang orang bukan Islam menerima Islam. Malah, ia menyebabkan orang bukan Islam melihat umat Islam sebagai pengganas,” katanya.

Nurfarah Diyanah Aidi, presiden kumpulan pelajar kursus pengurusan komunikasi dan media Politeknik Temasek, bimbang mengenai implikasi jangka panjang akibat penangkapan belia tersebut bak menconteng arang ke muka masyarakat Melayu/Islam.

“Perbuatan kedua-dua remaja itu memang salah, tidak masuk akal mengapa mereka boleh terpengaruh dengan kumpulan radikal seperti ISIS.

“Perbuatan kejam ISIS menconteng arang ke muka semua umat Islam. Perbuatan mereka buat saya sungguh marah dan kecewa,” kata Nurfarah yang juga presiden kumpulan pelajar kursus Pengurusan Komunikasi dan Media, Politeknik Temasek.

HUBUNGI ISD JIKA ADA MAKLUMAT

Sesiapa yang tahu atau mengesyaki seseorang yang telah menjadi radikal digesa menghubungi segera Pusat Pencegah Pengganasan Jabatan Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISD) di talian 1800-2626-473.

Ini dapat menyelamatkan individu berkenaan dan membolehkannya mendapat bantuan dan kaunseling supaya tidak melakukan kegiatan pengganasan yang boleh membahayakan diri mereka dan orang lain.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 30, 2015
The Gay Revival

I’m going to address some very controversial topics today. If you have trouble with God moving outside your comfort zone, you may not want to read this article. I’m serious: be careful! This may push your buttons.

We’re going to talk about homosexual Christians, LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] Christians.

The Bible is clear, Old Testament and New: homosexual behavior is sinful behavior. Since we’re talking about Christians, we could go on about how there are loads of sins that we overlook in the church, while we call out certain others, but that hypocrisy is another topic for another day.

One day, years ago, I was with a small group, praying for some folks we knew that were stuck in homosexuality. It was one of those prayer gatherings where you just know that God is hearing your prayers, even as he’s helping to shape them and encourage us in them.

In the midst of that, I had a vision: tens of thousands of people in the homosexual community were encountering Jesus. It was a huge movement, and God was in their midst. They were worshiping powerfully, and God was delighting in their praise. There were signs and wonders. Many were in tears, some because of His love, some because of their sin, but it wasn’t always the sin I had my own eyes on that they were convicted of. It was a genuine revival.

I began to praise God for that revival, for the many sons and daughters that were coming back to their Father, and as I did, the vision became even more real: I was in their midst as they were worshiping God.

And then I realized: they weren’t – most of them weren’t – leaving their culture. Nearly all of them stayed in the homosexual community, and a very large number of them didn’t appear to repent of their homosexual ways.

I began to react to that: That’s not right, I said in my mind. Father began to gently instruct me in this vision:

1)         When he calls people to himself, he does not call them to leave their culture. American Church Culture is not our goal. Relationship with Jesus is the goal. Hmm. OK. That’s true enough.

2)         When he finally got ahold of my life (after a longer fight than it should have been), I was not sin-free. There were several sins that he took decades to put his finger on. In fact, He said, There are some things I haven’t pointed out to you even yet. Yikes.

But it’s true. If he didn’t point out– and by pointing out, give me grace to deal with – some of my sins for decades, why should I expect him to be less patient with other sons and daughters?

3)         And son, he said so very gently: these are my children, not yours. I am their Father, you are not. I am capable of raising My own children without your getting in their way.

Since that experience, I’ve received a few reports that it’s beginning to happen, that substantial numbers of people inside the LGBT community are discovering the Lover of their Souls!

I have received credible testimony from different people in different streams that tell me about the revival that is going on among the homosexual population. (At their request, and for their safety, I will not be releasing their identities. Some people do not respond well when God moves outside their box.)

These people have been among gatherings of gay believers – we might call them church meetings or conferences – where the worship is powerful, where the Holy Spirit is present, where signs and wonders are in abundance, where Jesus is lifted up high. They have recognized God’s favor on the gatherings, and experienced His delight in them.

I have met believers who are homosexuals. Some appear to be your basic, timid churchgoers, some flaming transsexuals proclaiming the gospel to their community. Some are content with their homosexuality; some want out but don’t know how; some are proud of their status, though these seem to be the ones who’ve taken the brunt of the church’s accusations.

I’ve said all this to arrive at this conclusion: God is moving powerfully in ways that we never expected. And hold on to your hats, because he has more than this that he’s going to do.

So how shall we respond to homosexuals that call themselves Christians? That’s simple: we love them. Just like we’re called to love self-righteous people who call themselves Christians.

We surely have no right to challenge the faith of either group, and nearly always, we lack the right to challenge either their behavior or their culture. But we have the right to love them.

Let’s love one another, as Jesus commanded us, shall we? And let’s trust our good Father to raise His children well.

Source: www.pilgrimgram.com

May 30, 2015