A 29-year-old Singaporean was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after he self-radicalized and planned to go to war zones abroad to engage in armed activity.
Radjev Lal Madan Lal, a mover for a logistics business, was arrested in April, according to a news statement issued by the Internal Security Department (ISD) on Tuesday (May 10).
In 2013, Radjev was first exposed to the internet lectures of Imran Hosein, a radical foreign preacher from Trinidad and Tobago.
ISD said, "Imran's teachings on Islamic eschatological prophesies such as the coming End of Times and the rise of the Black Flag Army (BFA) resonated with Radjev, who had a strong interest in conspiracy theories."
Over time, Radjev was profoundly radicalized by the internet teachings of Imran and other foreign extremist preachers such as Anwar Al-Awlaki and Musa Cerantonio.
Imran was denied entry to Singapore in 2007 because to his radical preaching.
Al-Awlaki was a Yemeni-American who commanded the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In September 2011, he was killed by a United States drone attack.
Cerantonio is an Australian who incited and recruited Muslims to engage in violent action in Syria. In May of 2019, he was sentenced to seven years in prison in Australia for terrorism-related offenses.
According to ISD, "the BFA is prophesied to be a Muslim army carrying black flags led by Mahdi, the savior of Muslims, that will emerge from Khorasan (historical region encompassing parts of modern-day Afghanistan and north-east Iran) to engage in a final battle with non-believers at the end of the world."
ISD said, "Terror organizations, notably the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, have appropriated the imagery of the black flags to gather support for their struggle for power."
SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP CREATED
Radjev became persuaded that it was his "holy duty" to engage in armed action with the BFA in order to "kill enemies of Islam," according to ISD.
According to ISD, these "enemy" included non-Muslims who interfered in Islamic matters as well as Western nations such as the United States and Israel.
He felt that dying as a martyr with the BFA in the battlefield would earn him rewards in the afterlife.
Radjev attempted to persuade his family and friends to join him in his intentions to engage in armed bloodshed by spreading his radical beliefs and recruiting them as accomplices.
He established a social media organization in order to disseminate his extremist beliefs among his internet acquaintances. According to ISD, none of his relatives or friends in Singapore reacted favorably to him.
ISD research identifies self-radicalisation as the primary terror danger in Singapore and far-right extremism as a growing worry.
WILLING TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK IN SINGAPORE
Radjev felt at various times that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban were "potential expressions of the BFA," and he prepared for armed violence.
In 2014, he studied and prepared his journey to Syria in order to join ISIS. However, he abandoned this strategy after seeing a video by Imran, in which he rejected the notion that ISIS was the BFA.
"Despite this, Radjev continued to prepare for armed violence, including practicing knife tactics," according to ISD.
"At the time of his detention, Radjev felt that the Taliban represented the BFA and was contemplating a trip to Afghanistan to join the Taliban.
"Radjev had no particular attack plans against Singapore, but he confessed he was prepared to launch an attack in Singapore or against Singapore's interests abroad if ordered to do so by Imran or the BFA."
ISD said that it would take "strong action" against anybody in Singapore who supports, promotes, engages in, or makes preparations for armed violence, regardless of how such violence is justified or where it occurs.
The agency stated, "Radjev's case demonstrates that Singaporeans are not immune to extremist propaganda spread by religious speakers or ideologues, especially on internet platforms."
"Therefore, it is essential to seek counsel and direction from trustworthy local religious authorities and sources."
Two individuals released from detention.
ISD revealed in Tuesday's news release that two self-radicalized Singaporeans were freed from ISA imprisonment earlier this year.
"They had made significant progress in their rehabilitation and no longer posed a security concern necessitating preventive detention," ISD said.
In January 2019, Hazim Syahmi Mahfoot was imprisoned under the ISA. The 31-year-old was an acquaintance of Mohamed Kazali Salleh, a Singaporean, and was influenced by Kazali's extremist viewpoint that he believed he should engage in armed action against the supposed enemies of his faith.
In January of this year, Hazim Syahmi was freed on a suspension directive.
Last year, Kazali was jailed for giving funds to an ISIS member in Syria for the purpose of supporting terrorist operations.
Ruqayyah Ramli, who had been held under the ISA since April 2021, was the second person to be freed.
Ruqayyah, 35, was radicalized by her Malaysian husband, Mohd Firdaus Kamal Intdzam, and supported his plan to fly to Syria to fight for ISIS.
ISD said, "She was first handed a restriction order in August 2020, but was imprisoned in April 2021 as her extreme behavior escalated."
In February of this year, she was freed with a suspension order.
Firdaus was returned to Malaysia in August 2020, after ISD's inquiry was completed. The Malaysian High Court sentenced him to three years in jail for possession of terrorism-related propaganda materials in April of last year.
STAYING WATCHFUL
ISD warned the public to keep watchful and on the lookout for indications that an individual may become radicalized.
These potential indicators of radicalism include:
Frequent browsing of extremist websites
Extremist beliefs expressed on social media platforms, such as support/admiration for terrorists/terrorist organisations and the use of violence.
Sharing their radical beliefs with family and friends
Making statements that incite animosity or hate towards members of different races or faiths.
Declaring desire to engage in violent crimes abroad or in Singapore
Inciting people to take part in violent actions
"Early reporting allows the person at danger of radicalization to get proper guidance and counseling," said ISD.
They can be diverted away from the road of radicalization and may not need severe legal punishment.
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