S’porean Housewife & Former Religious Teacher Detained Under ISA; Had Planned to Fight for ISIS

Ruqayyah Ramli, a 34-year-old Singaporean housewife and former religious teacher, has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

She had intended to travel to Syria to become involved in armed violence for terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

According to the Internal Security Department (ISD), she had been radicalised by her husband, who had been previously arrested for similar offences. 

After his arrest, she had undergone religious counselling but did not respond favourably to it, insisting on following the path of radicalisation. 

Ruqayyah was issued a restriction order (RO) under the ISA in August 2020. 

When someone is placed under an RO, they are not allowed to change their area of residence, employment or travel out of Singapore without official authorisation. 

In addition, they are prohibited from releasing public statements or becoming a part of organisations without authorisation. 

However, according to the ISD, after being placed on RO, there had been an “escalation in Ruqayyah’s radical behaviour and involvement in activities prejudicial to Singapore’s security”..

In addition, she had continued online communication with ISIS supporters overseas, which was a violation of her RO. 

The ISD concluded that she was therefore detained to “prevent her from progressing further down the violent radical path.”

She has also since had her accreditation by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) suspended. 

This is the second instance of an accredited religious teacher being issued an order under the ISA. 

Previously in 2019, former freelance religious teacher Murad Mohd Said, former principal of Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah, was issued a RO for ideologies that promoted the use of violence, as well as views that were harmful to Singapore’s cohesion. 

Ruqayyah’s husband, Mohd Firdaus Kamal Intdzam, a Malaysian who had been employed as a cleaner in Singapore, was arrested under the ISA in July last year and deported to Malaysia. 

He had started becoming radicalised in 2016 after seeking online resources to boost his religious knowledge. 

He came into contact with pro-ISIS content, and became an avid supporter of the group. He regularly uploaded pro-ISIS materials onto his social media platforms. 

He had also created an ISIS flag in March last year and displayed it in his home as a show of support and loyalty towards the group. 

Firdaus was found willing to travel to Syria to participate in armed violence, and he was also willing to attack countries deemed to be involved in the oppression of Muslims.

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