Former MOE Teacher Detained Under ISA for Terrorism Offences Released
A former Ministry of Education (MOE) teacher, Mohamed Khairul Riduan Mohamed Sarip, who was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for terrorism-related activities, has been released from custody. The Internal Security Department (ISD) announced on Thursday that Khairul, 40, was released on a restriction order in November 2024 after showing significant progress in his rehabilitation.
Journey to Extremism
Khairul, the first public servant in Singapore to be arrested under the ISA for terrorism offences, developed an interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2007. His fascination grew after watching Facebook videos depicting alleged Israeli aggression against Palestinians. Influenced by radical foreign preachers, Khairul began contemplating joining Hamas and its military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades (AQB), to engage in armed violence.
In 2012, Khairul considered traveling to Gaza after seeing a Facebook poster calling for volunteers. Despite not acting on his plans initially due to travel restrictions, his desire to support Palestinians persisted. ISD stated that Khairul was prepared to follow Hamas directives, including participating in armed combat, kidnappings, and executions of prisoners of war. He even contemplated becoming a spokesperson and recruiter for the group.
Release and Restriction Orders Lapse
The ISD also revealed that restriction orders against Mohamed Hussain Saynudin, Abdul Basheer Abdul Kader, and Murad Mohamed Said have lapsed. Hussain, a former Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) member, underwent terrorist training with the Lashker-e-Tayyiba militant group in Pakistan. Basheer was initially detained in 2007 for planning militant jihad in Afghanistan, influenced by online extremist propaganda. Murad, a freelance religious teacher, propagated violent beliefs detrimental to Singapore’s social harmony.
While Khairul has been released with restrictions, these three individuals have seen their restriction orders expire due to positive progress in their rehabilitation. This development sheds light on the complex nature of radicalization and the challenges in reintegrating individuals back into society after their involvement in extremist activities.
