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Tag: radicals

  • Humanist Society (Singapore): ‘Terrorism Has No Religion’ Slogan Is Divisive

    Humanist Society (Singapore): ‘Terrorism Has No Religion’ Slogan Is Divisive

    The Humanist Society (Singapore) sets out our position regarding the slogan “Terrorism has no religion”.
    As Singapore celebrates Racial Harmony Day this month, we are mindful that the terrorist threat to Singapore is at its highest in decades. Singapore’s political leaders has emphasised that the question is not whether a terrorist attack will happen here, but when it will happen.
    It is an unfortunate fact that most terrorist attacks in major cities have been perpetuated under the banner of radical Islamic ideology. A similar attack in Singapore will undoubtedly have ramifications on the relationship between persons of different races and faiths.
    After each attack by the Islamic State or its adherents (also known as ISIS/ DAESH), ordinary citizens, political and religious leaders often condemn the attackers by asserting that “terrorism has no religion”. However the Humanist Society (Singapore) suggest that this is a divisive slogan which discriminates against people with no religion.
    The statement ‘terrorism has no religion’ can also be read as saying that the terrorists were in fact irreligious. Such interpretation even more glaring in reactions stating that the terrorists were “not true Muslims” or “not true believers” – therefore by implication having no religion. The logical conclusion of such statements is that atheism, or the lack of religion, is the root of terrorism instead.
    While the slogan was formulated to guard against racial or religious prejudice, it inevitably casts aspersions against persons who have no religion. The Society is concerned that such sentiments may lead to further contempt and discrimination against people who do not subscribe to organised religion. We suggest that a better rallying call is “United against Terrorism”.
    It is simplistic to think that merely disassociating religious ideology from terrorism will guard society against terrorism. Society’s collective response to a terrorist attack involves physical responses like the newly established Rapid Deployment Troops, as well as social and psychological responses such as the further strengthening of our multi-racial, multi-religious fabric.
    We therefore call upon the Singapore government to step up national defense programmes regarding psychological defense, and the Inter-Religious Organisation and other grassroots organisations to conduct inter-faith events where the aftermath of a potential terrorist attack in Singapore can be honestly and frankly addressed.
    Source: Humanist Society (Singapore)
  • Singapura Tidak Boleh Biarkan Serangan Pengganas Pecah Belahkan Negara

    Singapura Tidak Boleh Biarkan Serangan Pengganas Pecah Belahkan Negara

    Keharmonian kaum antara kaum dan agama berbeza adalah prinsip asas bagi Singapura.

    Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong berkata demikian sempena Hari Keharmonian Kaum hari ini (21 Jul).

    Dalam satu catatan Facebook, PM Lee menulis rakyat Singapura harus merai kepelbagaian mereka dan berkongsi adat dan budaya satu sama lain.

    Beliau berkata di banyak negara ada lebih banyak kes orang menolak kepelbagaian.

    PM Lee merujuk kepada serangan pengganas baru-baru ini di Orlando, Amerika Syarikat, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nice di Perancis dan Puchong di Malaysia.

    Setiap kejadian itu kata beliau sifatkan sebagai menakutkan, didorong kebencian dan menyayat hati.

    Beliau menambah bahawa Singapura harus sentiasa bersatu sebagai satu bangsa, dan tidak membenarkan keadaan sedemikian memisah atau memecahbelahkan negara.

    Sekolah di Singapura memperingati Hari Keharmonian Kaum bagi mengingati rusuhan kaum di Singapura pada 1964.

    Dua rusuhan kaum selama lima hari itu mengakibatkan lebih 30 orang terbunuh dan sekurang-kurangnya 500 cedera.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • ISIS Launches Malay-Language Propaganda Newspaper In Southeast Asia

    ISIS Launches Malay-Language Propaganda Newspaper In Southeast Asia

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Terror group Islamic State (IS) is trying to increase its reach in South-east Asia by launching a Malay-language publication for its supporters in the region, according to a Berita Harian (BH) report.

    The Malay daily reported today that the publication called Al Fatihin was launched in southern Philippines on June 20, and is being distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Thailand, as well as southern Philippines itself.

    An unnamed security expert was quoted saying that the act can be seen as an “unofficial warning” that the Malay archipelago is in IS’s sights.

    “This psychological campaign means that the terrorists have a big objective, which is to expand their influence among people who understand the Malay language,” said the source.

    “Based on the way the language is used, we believe the writer or editor of the paper may be from this country,” the source added.

    Al Fatihin means “The Conqueror” in Arabic.

    A paper by the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore last month gave some details on the newspaper’s first issue’s contents.

    The 20-page edition focussed on the month of Ramadan and the act of jihad or “holy struggle”, with a three-page message from Egyptian ideologue Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, calling on IS fighters to “continue their jihadist activities, search for martyrdom and kill and crucify the polytheists, disbelievers, oppressors and transgressors”.

    It also featured Syrian martyr Abu Bilal al-Himshi, and various news excerpts from Raqqa in Syria to the Philippines, information and statistics on military operations, a map of IS provinces across the glove, and alms collection and distribution statistics in Syria.

    According to BH, its editor also invited all militant groups in Indonesia and the Philippines to unite and pledge allegiance to IS leader and self-styled caliph Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

    Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division senior assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay refused comment on the matter to the daily, claiming the matter was still being investigated.

    However he told the daily that IS is believed to be expanding its media arms, in the fields of information technology, audio visual, processing and publishing to maintain its global communications.

    “It is proven through the production of their official IS applications including an official ‘live broadcast’ radio from the official IS media centre in Iraq that is broadcasted all over the world,” said Ayub.

    Regional security expert Bilveer Singh, an adjunct senior fellow at Centre of Excellence for National Security at RSIS recently warned of possible increase in IS activities in the region as the terrorist organisation has begun losing its hold on territories in Iraq and Syria.

    There had been a recent increase of attacks linked to IS globally, including bombings at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, the slaying of hostages in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and in South-east Asia, a suicide bombing in Solo, Indonesia, as well as the grenade attack which injured eight people at a bar in Puchong — reportedly the first in Malaysia linked to the IS.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Noor Mastura: Solidarity Of Humankind Required As ISIS Attacks On Muslims Dampens Ramadan

    Noor Mastura: Solidarity Of Humankind Required As ISIS Attacks On Muslims Dampens Ramadan

    ISIS/Radicals Ramadan ‘worship’ checklist (update -)
    Destroy :
    Istanbul
    Bangladesh
    Iraq
    Medina
    …Basically make Muslims all over the world mourn in our holiest month

    This is the worst Ramadan ever. With all the attacks from not only ISIS but raging Islamophobia in the west shooting random Muslims down and hitting them black and blue in the streets. Eid this year is going to be Muslims all over the world mourning the tragic loss of lives and burying their loved ones.

    Lord knows the worst part about this is there are millions of people who actually think we deserve it.
    I cant even begin to express anger, the anguish and the pain of an entire community of 1.6 billion people in the world who are slammed and attacked and targeted on BOTH sides.

    Keep fighting the good fight? We are tired, tortured, drowning and fighting a never ending uphill battle.
    Lord help us.. because we are not giving up. We cant. Not even when it burns our soul and rips our hearts. We wont.

    And to the world that’s watching – WE ONLY HAVE EACH OTHER. Humanity is literally being torn apart. Stop fighting your factions. Stop labelling yourselves. Stop dividing your brethren. Shias, Sunnis, Sufis, Salafis, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Athiests, Buddhists- I dont really care. We need each other more than ever.

     

    Source: Noor Mastura

  • Walid J. Abdullah: Condemnation Underpinned By Islamophobia Won’t Stop Terrorism

    Walid J. Abdullah: Condemnation Underpinned By Islamophobia Won’t Stop Terrorism

    No amount of vociferous condemnations of terrorist acts, and statuses that highlight ‘our thoughts and prayers’ will help solve terrorism.

    Not that we should not do them, but understand why we do. We condemn terrorism because it is the right thing to do, because that is what every decent human being would do, not because it would magically eliminate terrorism.

    After our condemnations, we should then discuss the multiple paths to radicalization, and try as far as possible to address those issues. If we stop at condemnations, without ever seriously discussing the complex factors surrounding extremism – of which religious misguidance is undoubtedly (but) one – i wonder what we are truly trying to achieve.

    And for those who somehow still feel Muslims should ‘own’ the problem or be apologetic, in spite of the dastardly acts in Bangladesh, Iraq, Turkey and Saudi, where victims are mostly Muslims, please stop masking your Islamophobia.

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah