SINGAPORE - The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has urged Muslims in Singapore to consult them first if they wish take up Islamic studies abroad, warning that some of these foreign schools may be preying on the vulnerable.

Muis’ advice came as the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday (March 16) that the Internal Security Act (ISA) had been used to deal with four Singaporeans who took part or tried to join armed conflicts overseas.

In a statement acknowledging the “real and ongoing” threat of terrorism and extremism, Muis said: “The arrests show that there are institutions abroad that may masquerade as centres of Islamic learning, but which are actually involved in armed conflict and militant activities, and/or propagate extremist ideologies.

“These foreign schools prey on the vulnerable, especially those who approach them with the intent of deepening their religious belief.”

Three of those dealt with under the ISA - Mohammad Razif Yahya, 27, Amiruddin Sawir, 53, and Mohamed Mohideen Mohamed Jais, 25 - were in Yemen for religious studies before they took up arms and got involved in the rife-torn country’s sectarian conflict. The fourth Singaporean arrested under the ISA, Wang Yuandongyi, wanted to join a Kurdish militia in Syria though he was not ideologically driven.

Razif began studying at a religious institution there in 2010, while Amiruddin arrived there in 2013. Their involvement with the conflict began with them volunteering for armed sentry duty at the religious institution. Later, Razif took up sniper training, while Amiruddin was involved in a firefight. Mohideen performed armed sentry duties in Yemen while doing religious studies there from 2009 to early 2011.

“We strongly urge Muslims in Singapore who wish to study Islam to approach only recognised religious teachers (asatizah) for guidance and advice,” Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, deputy director, Office of the Mufti (Muis), said in a statement.

He added: “For those who wish to study in foreign institutions, please consult Muis and we will provide guidance and the necessary support on the appropriate overseas institutions for Islamic studies. We would also like to encourage parents and family members to play a more active role in guiding their loved ones to proper sources of Islamic learning.”

In its statement, Muis noted that the spate of terrorist attacks internationally and the recent arrests of radical suspects in Singapore showed that the threat of extremism was “real and ongoing”. In January, Singapore announced it had arrested 27 Bangladeshi construction workers here for contemplating armed jihad overseas as well as in their homeland.