Internal Security Department nabs Net-inspired jihadist

June 8, 2007

Internal Security Department nabs Net-inspired jihadist

By Sue-Ann Chia
A YOUNG Muslim Singaporean law graduate has been detained under the Internal Security Act for planning militant activities fuelled by ideas he gathered about terror from the Internet.

He is part of what the Home Affairs Ministry on Friday described as a troubling new phenomena of individuals who are 'self-radicalised' and not recruited by established terrorist groups.

In revealing his detention since February this year, the ministry also disclosed that four more Jemaah Islamiah (JI) members were nabbed recently.

A fifth member was issued a restriction order, which requires him, among other things, to get official approval before changing jobs or going abroad. All five had been on the run since 2001.

But the stunning piece of news to community leaders last night was the detention of the 'self-radicalised' young man.

He was identified as 28-year-old Abdul Basheer Abdul Kader, who studied law in the university. He practiced law and later became a lecturer in an educational institution.

The Straits Times understands that he studied in one of Singapore's top schools.

According to the ministry, from late 2004, he began 'developing the mindset that he had to wage militant jihad in a land where Muslims were under attack'.

'His views were shaped by the radical discourse that he avidly looked up on the Internet.'

He left Singapore for a Middle East country in October last year, where he planned to live for two years. But within two months, his plans intensified as he became more deeply influenced by the 'extremist propaganda' he read on the Internet, said the ministry.

By last December, he had decided to embark on 'militant jihad' or holy war immediately.

At the time of his arrest, he had purchased an air ticket to Pakistan where he intended to make contact with a militant group - the Lashkar e-Tayyiba - which could help him train him and cross over to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taleban.

He enlisted the help of his Singaporean friend, Muhamad Yassin Khan bin Muhamad Yunos, 30, who was issued with a restriction order in February.

'He was not only fully aware of Abdul Basheer's plans to wage militant jihad in Afghanistan, but had actively abetted it,' said the ministry.

The Internal Security Department has, in recent years, investigated a few Singaporeans who were drawn to terrorist and radical ideas purveyed in the mass media, particulary the Internet.

Such cases of 'self-radicalisation' have been uncovered in several countries.

Community leaders and MPs interviewed yesterday were troubled by this phenomena which has affected well-educated individuals like Abdul Basheer.

'This shows that we are a lot more vulnerable than we thought and the role of the new media is quite apparent,' said MP Zaqy Mohamad.

But leaders were confident that community ties, which have strengthened since the first wave of terrorism-related arrests in 2001, will not be strained by this.

The detention of more JI members also did not alarm leaders who believed it showed the continued vigilance of security agencies here.

There are now 34 people detained under the ISA for involvement in terrorism activities.

The ministry also revealed that five JI detainees were released on suspension directions on Jun 1. This means they must comply with certain restrictions or risk being detained again.

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*edited till I am more capable of coherent speech after my exams*