Muis cannot safeguard against militant influences on its own

SINGAPORE – The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) signalled yesterday that it cannot safeguard against militant influences on its own. It called on Muslim Singaporeans – religious leaders, mosque leaders and parents – to bring to its attention any stray teachers they may encounter.

The importance of the community's role in guarding against self-radicalisation was flagged by Muis not only in the choices made about which teachers to engage for youth here, but also where parents send their children for religious education overseas.

This was the message, in Muis' first comments about the three individuals dealt with under the Internal Security Act, as the council also detailed the work it has done in Islamic education here.

A day earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that full-time National Serviceman Muhammad Fadil Abdul Hamid, 20, had been detained for two years, from April 4, for expounding jihadist views and striving for martyrdom.

Two others, unaccredited religious teacher Muhammad Anwar Jailani, 44, and a young business owner he had influenced, Muhammad Thahir Shaik Dawood, 27, were placed under restriction orders, also for two years.

The former had distributed to students, contacts and members of the public numerous copies of CDs containing audio recordings of lectures by radical ideologue Al Awlaki.

In response to media queries, Muis issued a statement to express its "deep concern" about the cases as well as its appreciation of the support shown by other religious leaders.

"It is also incumbent upon members of the community to refer to Muis any individual who appears to espouse militant views in the name of Islam, so that Muis can intervene early and provide the necessary follow up and counselling," the statement added.

There are resources for "engaging and providing feedback" on religious teachers, said Muis. Currently, Islamic religious teachers are required to register under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) before they can preach in mosques or teach in madrasahs. This list of 1,200 names is posted on the Muis website.

But are tougher measures needed to deal with deviant religious teachers?

Yes, said co-chairman of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) Ustaz Hasbi Hassan, because "deviant teachings lead to radicalisation, which affects everyone".

On its end, he said RRG is getting younger religious teachers to volunteer and engage younger Muslims "because they are easily influenced and they need guidance".

But it does not end there, another mosque leader told MediaCorp. "Parents definitely play an important part," said Ba'alwie Mosque chairman Mr Habib Hassan.

"In this case, it is all about asking the right questions to the right teachers … but as we self-police ourselves, parents and guardians playing an important role in putting their children on the right path."

Indeed, Muis noted, "parents and older adults can also show concern for our youth by detecting changes in behaviour and ensuring they get to the right sources of help and guidance, especially in times of personal crisis".

Agreeing, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies senior analyst Mohd Feizal Mod Hassan said the community must realise that parental control is especially important with the Internet becoming a fertile recruitment ground for extremist sympathisers.

"We need to appreciate institutions like Muis or the police (when combating radicalism) … these are channels parents can use to turn their young ones back to the fold," he said.

Muis said it started the aL.I.V.E.SG and INvoKe.SG websites to provide forums for Muslim youths to channel their curiosity on religious matters.

Muis also cited its Student Resource Development Secretariat, set up in 2004, which parents can contact for assistance on tertiary Islamic religious education abroad.

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