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Radicalised parking warden detained under Internal Security Act: MHA

SINGAPORE — A radicalised Singaporean parking warden who wanted to undertake armed violence overseas was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last month, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday (May 11).

SINGAPORE — A radicalised Singaporean parking warden who wanted to undertake armed violence overseas was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last month, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday (May 11).

Mohamed Faishal Mohd Razali, 27, turned to the Internet to improve his religious knowledge sometime in mid-2016. He took in the teachings of foreign preachers including two who have been banned from entering Singapore – Ismail Menk and Yusuf Estes, who the ministry said are known to preach segregationist and divisive teachings.

Faishal was also exposed to the radical teachings of the late radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

With a "weak religious foundation", Faishal became convinced over time that waging armed violence was legitimate and would help redeem his sins, said the MHA.

From early last year, he began preparing to undertake armed violence overseas. He searched online for a religious authority who would support his decision, and sounded out two friends about his plan.

According to the MHA, they tried to dissuade him. Family members who came to know of his intentions also tried to do the same. But Faishal continued to believe it was his duty to take part in armed violence overseas in places including Syria, and someone alerted the authorities about his plans, said the MHA without revealing further details.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said Faishal's detention was a reminder that the threat of terrorism and self-radicalisation through online extremist propaganda remains alive.

Muis urged families, friends and the wider community to seek help from the authorities and agencies when in doubt.

It said accredited religious teachers, or asatizah, can guide Muslims to embrace the compassionate and peaceful spirit of Islam and reject extremist ideology.

The Asatizah Youth Network has conducted several outreach events and drop-in sessions are available at the Masjid Al-Falah in Orchard Road to counsel and address queries on exclusivism and armed conflict, said Muis. Those interested may contact the mosque at 6235 3172 to fix an appointment.

They may also contact the Religious Rehabilitation Group though its app or at 1800 774 7747.

"Islam calls for the pursuit of peace and that should be our priority as Muslims. Let us not be misguided by disinformation promoted by such propaganda of hate," said Ustaz Mohammad Khalid Rafi, an Asatizah Youth Network member and executive imam of Masjid Muhajirin.

Meanwhile, the MHA said restriction orders on two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members and another Singaporean were allowed to lapse in February and March.

Sahrudin Mohd Sapian, 62, and Mohamed Rafee Abdul Rahman, 54, fled Singapore in December 2002 in the wake of security operations against the JI and were later arrested in the region, deported and detained here in Jan 2012. They were released from detention and issued restriction orders in February 2014.

The third person free of a restriction order is Wang Yuandongyi, 25. He was the first ethnic Chinese to be placed under a Restriction Order in March 2016 for intending to undertake violence in overseas armed conflicts. A non-Muslim who was not motivated by ideological reasons, Wang was the first known case of a Singaporean seeking to take up arms overseas against the Islamic State by joining a Kurdish militia group in Syria.

MHA last announced it had imposed the ISA on an individual in January. Malaysian airfreight driver Muhammad Nur Hanief Abdul Jalil, 33, wanted to travel to Syria or Palestine to participate in the conflict there. He was arrested that month and deported in February.

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