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4 radicalised people arrested in Singapore

Xinhua, March 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Singapore authorities have arrested four radicalised Singaporeans under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for engaging in overseas armed conflict, or intending to undertake violence.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday, 27-year-old Mohammad Razif Yahya and 53-year-old Amiruddin Sawir were detained under the ISA in August 2015 for voluntarily taking up arms and participating in the sectarian conflict in Yemen,

MHA said the two started religious studies in an institution in Yemen and volunteered to take up armed sentry duties at the institution against any incursion by the Houthis.

"Razif and Amiruddin were prepared to kill and be killed as 'martyrs' in the sectarian conflict in Yemen. By taking up arms in Yemen, they have demonstrated a readiness to use violence to pursue their religious cause ... As such, they are assessed to pose a security threat to Singapore," it added.

The third, 25 year-old Mohamed Mohideen Mohamed Jais, had performed armed sentry duties in Yemen during his religious studies there from 2009 to early 2011 and was placed on a Restriction Order (RO) under the ISA with effect from March 2016, the ministry said.

The fourth man, Wang Yuandongyi had intended to travel to Turkey and Syria to join a Kurdish militia group that was fighting terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He was arrested under the ISA and was also placed on a RO this month.

A person issued with a RO must abide by several conditions and restrictions. For example, he is not permitted to change his residence or employment, or travel out of Singapore, without the prior approval of the ISD director, according to Channel NewsAsia.

"They are deemed to pose a threat to Singapore's security, and will be firmly dealt with in accordance with our laws," the ministry stressed.

"The Government takes a stern view against anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence ideologically, or where the violence takes place," it added. Enditem