Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Government bans nine books, bid to preach by Singaporean

SINGAPORE — Nine publications by a Singaporean preacher known for his extremist views will be banned from Wednesday (June 20) under the Undesirable Publications Act, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said on Tuesday.

Rasul Dahri. Screencap from YouTube

Rasul Dahri. Screencap from YouTube

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — Nine publications by a Singaporean preacher known for his extremist views will be banned from Wednesday (June 20) under the Undesirable Publications Act, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said on Tuesday.

The preacher, Mr Rasul Dahri, also had his application for the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) rejected by the Asatizah Recognition Board, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said in a separate statement.

The scheme recognises religious teachers and scholars who meet the minimum standards of qualification to preach and teach Islam in Singapore.

The council noted that the statements that Mr Rasul has made in his videos and publications contravene the scheme’s code of ethics, and are contrary to a progressive and inclusive outlook desired for the Singapore Muslim community. 

It called his statements “exclusivist in nature and dangerous in that they promote enmity, strife and potentially violence not only towards Muslims but also other religious communities and the state”.

Mr Rasul was reported last year to be jailed in Johor  for teaching Islam without accreditation.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MCI said the nine publications banned by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim were published between 1997 and 2013 by two publishers — Perniagaan Jahabersa and Syarikat Ummul Qura Enterprise — in Johor Baru.

The most recent two are titled Demokrasi, Pilihanraya & Mengundi: Satu Kajian Menurut Al-Quran & As-Sunnah (2013), and Tauhid Hakimiyah & Khawarij: Punca Demonstrasi, Pemberontakan, Pecah-belah dan Pengkafiran (2012).

The MCI said Mr Rasul’s publications contain extremist views, including remarks denigrating other religious groups. In some publications, he rejects the idea of a secular state and calls on Muslims to establish an Islamic state. 

The Singapore Government has zero tolerance for individuals or publications that aim to promote hostility or violence among different religious groups, the ministry added.

Under the Undesirable Publications Act, it is an offence to distribute any prohibited publication. It is also an offence for anyone to possess the publication, or come into its possession and fail to deliver the copy to the police. Offenders may be fined and jailed.

The MCI said anyone in possession of the nine publications should hand them over to the police.

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, said: “One of the greatest concerns facing Singapore is a terrorist attack from radicalised individuals in Singapore. 

“The recent cases of self-radicalised Singaporeans show how serious an impact extremist ideology can have on a person. Rasul Bin Dahri is a Singaporean who has, through his radical teachings, betrayed the values that Singapore has held so close to us as a multicultural and multiracial society.”

“We will not allow his radical teachings and his extremist ideology to take root in Singapore. We will do whatever we can, with security agencies as well as community organisations, such as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore to safeguard our community against extremism,” he added.

Muis, in its statement, also reminded Muslims here to seek religious education only from religious teachers registered under its Asatizah Recognition Scheme.

In a Facebook post later, Dr Yaacob noted that Mr Rasul’s publications “promote enmity between communities and even violence”.

“This is also why Rasul Dahri was firmly rejected from the Asatizah Recognition Scheme ... because of his extremist views,” he said.

He also urged the Muslim community here to seek religious knowledge from the ARS-accredited asatizahs, and “be very discerning towards what you see on the Internet”.

In a separate Facebook post, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli also stressed “the importance of seeking Islamic knowledge from the right sources and have confidence in the guidance by our Mufti and Muis”.

He said: “To this end, I’m glad the MCI and Muis concurred to ban the writings of Rasul Dahri for his extreme and exclusive views that will inevitably sow divisions and disharmony in our country.”

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.