Singaporean detained under ISA for promoting ISIS
A Singaporean man who spread extremist views via social media has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for two years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said that it had arrested and detained Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff in July for his "efforts to undermine Singapore's constitutional democracy".
The 44-year-old, who is an open supporter of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), used Facebook to promote the terrorist group and spread his idea of replacing the democratic nation-state system with an Islamic caliphate under Syariah law - through violent means, if necessary.
While residing in Australia, he set up the Al-Makhazin group on Facebook in 2013 as well as other similar pages to spread his message and counter Western media.
Zulfikar also admitted to creating the Al-Makhazin Singapore page, which he intended to use as a cover to agitate Muslims in Singapore towards ousting the democratic system and establishing an Isamic state here.
According to the MHA, Zulkifar's actions have contributed to the radicalisation of at least two other Singaporean men.
MHA said in a statement: "In view of the high level of the terrorism threat that Singapore currently faces, and the global terrorism threat posed by ISIS, Zulfikar's promotion of violence and ISIS and his radicalising influence pose a security threat to Singapore."
"He believes in the use of violence to overthrow the democratic system of government, and the imposition of an Islamic caliphate.
"He continues to support ISIS, and wants Singaporeans to do the same. The Government takes a very serious view of efforts to undermine Singapore's constitutional democracy, and will take firm and decisive action against any person who engages in such activities."
In the same statement, the MHA also said that it had issued restriction orders against 33-year-old businessman Mohamed Saiddhin Abdullah and an unnamed 17-year-old male.
It has also re-detained Fadil Abdul Hamid, 27, who was previously detained under the ISA from 2010 to 2012.
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