Rilek1Corner

Tag: Syria

  • MFA Strongly Condemns ISIS For The Beheading Of Another Aid Worker

    MFA Strongly Condemns ISIS For The Beheading Of Another Aid Worker

    Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today about the most recent beheading of a US aid worker by ISIS.

    Peter Kassig, also known as Abdul-Rahman Kassig, is the 5th westerner to have been beheaded by the militants. Mr Kassig, 26, was an aid worker who had been taken captive in October of 2013.

    In captivity, he converted to Islam and he took on the name Abdul-Rahman.

    ISIS announced Mr Kassig’s death in a longer 15 minute video in which they showed the beheading of another 14 men claimed to be people who were loyal to the Syrian President. Bashar al-Assad.

    In the video, ISIS also threatened to kill more US citizens in the streets of America.

    MFA wrote in their statement about the video: “Singapore strongly condemns the repeated brutality of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), most recently manifested in the murder of American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known as Peter Kassig. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Kassig, and reiterate our call for all hostages held by ISIS to be released immediately.

    This latest incident reinforces the urgent need for the international community to work together to counter the threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups. We need a comprehensive strategy to contain and weaken ISIS, and tackle the roots of extremism. As a member of the multinational coalition against ISIS, Singapore will do our part to combat this terrorist scourge.”

     

    Source: www.therealsingapore.com

  • Qiswah: Malay/Muslim Organisation Embarks On Humanitarian Projects for Syria and Gaza

    Qiswah: Malay/Muslim Organisation Embarks On Humanitarian Projects for Syria and Gaza

    SINGAPORE: A new Malay-Muslim organisation has embarked on a humanitarian project to provide 5,000 blankets to Syrian refugees in Turkey and raise donations for the people of Gaza.

    Qiswah – the organisation behind this – will deliver the blankets in December to help refugees cope with the harsh winter months. Its “Stitching Lives” project will help Syrians displaced by the inter-communal conflict in their country to patch their lives back.

    The project is organised in partnership with other Malay-Muslim organisations such as Jamiyah and the Muslim Expatriates Network and supported by the Inter-Religious Organisation.

    To promote the cause, a mass-sewing cross-stitch exercise was held on Saturday (Nov 15) with some 800 people of various races and faiths taking part. Participants also incorporated messages of hope in their cross-stitches which will be replicated on the actual blankets.

    Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who graced the event, said the project underscored how various groups can work together, within and across communities, for a worthwhile cause. He added that the community also has a part to play in the fight against radicalisation, “for example, by helping to guide any individual who may have espoused radical views and encouraging them to seek religious advice from accredited religious teachers.”

    “They could also alert the authorities who can take the appropriate steps to help them. In this way, we safeguard each other, our friends and our families,” he added.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • PM Lee: More Talking At “Deradicalisation Symposium” Can Help Tackle ISIS

    PM Lee: More Talking At “Deradicalisation Symposium” Can Help Tackle ISIS

    Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the East Asia Summit on Thursday that more should be done to prevent religious extremism in the region especially given the threat posed by ISIS.

    PM Lee said that there is no purely military solution to such “non-traditional security threats” but it is still necessary to fight and weaken the group.

    He suggested that the ideological roots of the group should be tackled instead and in rlation to this, he said that de-radicalisation Symposium may be helpful.

    He said that such a symposium could benefit the region as experts could share best practices.

    For example, in Singapore, PM Lee boasted that we have dealt with detainees who have planned terror attacks in Singapore before and Singapore strongly condemns ISIS’ actions.

    PM Lee also praised the US’s firm leadership on the issue and said that Singapore is ready to support where it can.

    Mr Lee also said at the summit that the global economy also has to remain open and keep protectionism at bay.

    He also emphasised that global leaders should quickly work to conclude negotiations on the various trade pacts such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

    Moving forward in this, PM Lee said that one of the most important aspects was the relationship between USA and China as this will determine stability in the world.

    He also commented that there have been signs of a thaw in relations, after a period of friction over historical issues and territorial disputes among China Japan and South Korea and this is good.

    PM Lee will soon be heading to Australia for the G20 summit in Brisbane which starts on Saturday.

     

    Source: http://therealsingapore.com

  • Singapore In The Anti-IS Coalition: A Missed Opportunity

    Singapore In The Anti-IS Coalition: A Missed Opportunity

    Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

    I’ve debated whether to post this.

    Decided I should.

    In the last few weeks, there was an issue that was extremely important for the Muslim community here to address. Yet as a whole, we did not. For whatever reasons.

    I refer to PM Lee’s announcement that the SG govt was considering joining the ‘coalition of the bombing’.

    Instead of addressing the issue – the elephant in the room in my view – they chose to address the dog issue.

    The situation is akin to what happened in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War and the setting up of a US airbase in Dahran. Instead of addressing the issue, the ‘establishment ulema’ there chose to focus their attention to a Muslimah who – heaven forbid – decided to drive. Aparently that’s far more impt than the issue of an entire airbase being situated very near to Islam’s holiest shrines. But I digress.

    Let’s recap. After Minister Shanmugam posting something on IS on his FB, suddenly so many establishment asatizahs start falling all over themselves to condemn IS. Not in their name, they chorused dutifully. The asatiahs were from RSIS and MUIS. The big guns, so to speak. Then The head of PERGAS gave an interview on national TV, condemning in no uncertain terms IS and again chorusing ‘not in our name’.

    Don’t get me wrong. I do not support IS. Im saying these acts do not happen in a vacuum. US atrocities, the bombing of entire Muslim villages by drones, the killing of many Muslims attending a wedding feast, CIA and Mosad complicity in the genesis of IS…. all these are conveniently left out of the narrative.

    Then there’s the woeful episode of the black flags. Asatizahs began writing articles, questioning the authenticity of the hadith on Khurasan and the black flags. Firstly, it was done in a rather lop-sided manner. Eg, in a particular chain that was quoted by both Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad, it was said that Imam Tirmidhi considered the chain weak. But what did Imam Ahmad say about it? Next, two places were mentioned: Khoorasan and Jerusalam. There are other ahadith about a Muslim army liberating Jerusalem, and the hadith is muttafaqqun alaih – of the highest possible authenticity. This was not mentioned. Also, there appears to be numerous chains of the hadith. And these chains could strengthen one another, making it collectively sahih. Not to mention these ahadith appear in the canonical six collections of ahadith – collectively the most authentic we have.

    Then the ED of PERGAS saw fit to talk to BH about it not being right to purchase the flag, as it would make non Muslims uncomfortable. Truly, that’s a preposterous statement. Should we then censor the Quran? After all, the end of Bakarah is a doa for Allah azzawajal to Grant us victory agst the non Believers? That’s juz one eg out of many.

    We are told we should have husnu zhon. But shouldn’t these asatizahs have husno zhon on the Muslims who had purchased the flags, without realising its bigger implications? Should the asatizahs not contact these people personally and advise them to remove it from FB? To my knowledge this wasn’t done. And our brothers were hauled up by the authorities and have to answer for their deeds, with all the attendant worry the family had to go thru.

    Now, after the govt announced that they would join the ‘coalition of the bombing’ and the issue has become fait accompli, some among the asatizahs are voicing out their displeasure. A little too late no? Or is it an attempt to recover lost legitimacy, since there has been voices ‘encouraging’ out estab asatizahs to join the jihad?

    Final word. Late for Jumuah. We hope our pol leaders and estab asatizahs enjoy their paychecks and coming EOY bonus. If u r MUIS staff, bear in mind it comes from the Fitrah fund.

    A reminder these things come with strings attached.

    We hope and pray there will not be hell to pay.

    Gotta go for now. I’m not done yet. will dress our own complicity in this.

    Wallahualam. Barakallahufeek.

     

    Authored by Syed Danial on 7 Nov 2011.

  • Malaysian Woman Charged for Trying to Join IS

    Malaysian Woman Charged for Trying to Join IS

    KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian woman who tried to join the outlawed Islamic State movement by marrying one of its militants was charged in court yesterday with supporting terrorism.

    Ummi Kalsom Bahak was charged before the Sepang Sessions Court for allegedly offering to support the Islamic State by attempting to board an Istanbul-bound AirAsia flight at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Oct 5 to marry one of its members, Aqif Huessin Rahaizat, and become part of the group.

    The 25-year-old assistant credit controller also faces an alternative charge of attempting to enter Syria to support the Islamic State by marrying Mr Aqif.

    She was alleged to have committed the offence at the same place and time.

    Ummi nodded her head as a sign that she understood the charge that had been read to her before Sessions Court judge Aizatul Akmal Maharani.

    However, no plea was recorded. If found guilty under either charge, she faces a penalty of not more than half of the maximum jail term of 30 years to life imprisonment. The court can also impose a fine and order the seizure of any assets believed to be linked with the offence.

    Ummi, who was unrepresented, was not allowed bail as she had been arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012.

    Judge Aizatul set a Nov 20 mention date for the case to be transferred to the High Court. It is understood that Ummi is the first woman in Malaysia to be charged in connection with the Islamic State, but is not the first woman to be arrested under Sosma.

    That dubious distinction goes to Halimah Hussein, 52, who, with former Internal Security Act detainee Yazid Sufaat and cafeteria worker Muhammad Hilmi Hasim, were the first to be detained under the Act on charges of promoting and abetting terrorist activities in Syria.

    On May 20, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged all three from the charges on the ground that Sosma was beyond the powers of the federal constitution, which deals with subversion and action prejudicial to public order, among other matters.

    The Court of Appeal, however, overturned the Lower Court’s ruling — a decision that was upheld by the Federal Court — and they will have to stand trial over the terrorism charges.

    Halimah, however, has since jumped bail and the police have yet to locate her whereabouts.

    The Malaysian police said on Oct 15 that they had detained 14 Muslims suspected of being linked with the Islamic State. Those detained included a trio believed to be leaders of a cell responsible for recruiting, sponsoring and sending Malaysians to fight in Syria. The detentions bring the number of people in Malaysia held for suspected militant links to 36 since April.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com