2 Singaporean men detained for involvement in terrorism activities

SINGAPORE – Two Singaporean men — including one who was previously convicted for inciting religious violence on social media — have been separately detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their involvement in terrorism activities.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said today (Sept 30) that investigations showed the two self-radicalised men — Muhammad Shamin bin Mohamed Sidek, 29, and Muhammad Harith Jailani, 18 — “harboured the intention to make their way to Syria to join the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and engage in violence there”.

Both were influenced by ISIS’ online radical propaganda.

Shamin was convicted and sentenced to three months’ jail in May for inciting religious violence through his pro-ISIS postings on social media.

He was arrested again in July, under the ISA, for investigations to assess if he posed a threat to Singapore’s security, as he had continued to express “unstinting support for ISIS” throughout his imprisonment, said the MHA in a press release.

“He was undeterred by his arrest under the ISA and said he would pursue his plans to join ISIS after his release from detention. Shamin said he was prepared to die in the course of defending the ‘caliphate’ that was declared by ISIS,” the ministry added.

Investigations by the Internal Security Department (ISD) revealed that Shamin had planned to travel to Syria to join ISIS once he had raised enough money to fund the trip. If he was unable to join ISIS, he considered fighting alongside a regional militant group that he considered to be aligned with ISIS, the MHA said.

Likewise, Harith had the intention of carrying out armed jihad for ISIS. “He was prepared to be trained by ISIS to fight and kill the group’s enemies, and to die in the process so that he would receive divine rewards for dying as a martyr,” the MHA said.

The MHA added that Harith had collected information on how he could travel to Syria, and tried to radicalise those around him to support ISIS’ cause in an attempt to recruit them to join the group with him.

At least three other Singaporeans have been detained or arrested under the ISA so far this year for their involvement in terrorism activities, including M Arifil Azim Putra Norja’i, 19, who was the first known self-radicalised Singaporean to have intentions of carrying out violent attacks here. The MHA said the latest detentions “underline the persistent ISIS threat and the threat posed by self-radicalised Singaporeans”.

The ministry added: “A few of the Singaporeans who have been detained had even been prepared to carry out terrorist attacks in Singapore. The Government takes a very serious view of any form of support for terrorism, including but not limited to the use of violence, and will take firm and decisive action against any person who engages in such activities.”

The MHA urged the public to call the ISD (1800-2626-473) or the Police (999), if they encounter suspicious activities, or are aware that someone is involved in terrorism-related activities. “A timely call can help save lives,” the ministry said.

In Canada last week, a 16-year-old went on trial for terrorism offences relating to a terrorist group in Syria. The teen’s father had reported him to the police after discovering a bag containing a mask, knife and cash hidden behind their home. The teen had told his parents he was going to participate in the fight in Syria “one way or another” and communicated a number of times, through social media, with Martin Couture-Rouleau, who was shot dead by the police after killing one Canadian soldier and injuring another in October last year.