Terrorism is a threat to any nation.
Naturally, any inkling of a terror movement would make a country react, tightening defences and security.
And over here in Singapore, it is no different as well. While we’re relatively a safe country, it never hurts to be prepared.
S’pore Home Team Agencies Have Been on Heightened Alert Since Sept 2020
In fact, we’ve been getting ready for a while now.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Singapore’s security agencies have been on high alert since early September, CNA reported.
This is in response to certain terrorist attacks in Europe and certain parts of the world.
In fact, 37 people are now being investigated by the Internal Security Department (ISD), with help from the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
They allegedly “attracted security attention for suspected radical inclinations, or for making comments which incite violence, or stoked communal unrest,” MHA said.
And as you all know, Singapore doesn’t take such incidents lightly.
Some of them had been also commenting on the same social media threads.
However, most cases weren’t connected.
10 men and four women, aged between 19 and 62, were Singaporeans.
Among the remaining 23 foreigners, 16 were sent back to their country after ISD finished their investigations.
One was a Malaysian who wanted to go to Syria or Palestine to carry out armed violence.
The other 15 are Bangladeshis, most of whom were working in the construction industry. One among them was also arrested for terrorism-related activities, The Straits Times reported.
The remaining seven are still being investigated.
Comments Regarding Terrorism In Europe
We’ve mentioned Europe and France a bit, but what cases were talked about by the group?
Well, one of the more prominent ones was the beheading of the French teacher Samuel Paty.
During a free speech lesson, the teacher had shown caricatures of the Prophet Mohamed to his students.
Particularly, ones from the Charlie Hebdo magazine.
Which, if you’re not in the know, is a satirical magazine that publishes reports, cartoons and even jokes.
However, their published works can be seen as insensitive and very offensive to certain parties or religions.
Paty was then decapitated on 16 Oct and four people involved in the crime were arrested.
Following that, the French President made a speech to defend the right in France to publish the caricatures.
The 37 people under investigation here in Singapore had allegedly shown support for this act online and other terrorist attacks on France.
Stepping Up Our Defences
While nothing major has happened to us, no one wants to take chances.
Besides the ISD, the SPF and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have improved security measures and patrols.
MHA says that security in Singapore will remain vigilant will act against those who support violence.
Even around November last year, Exercise Heartbeat was carried out at Sultan Mosque.
It simulated a terrorist attack and saw a joint effort between the(SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF).
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also spoke at Khadijah Mosque on Tuesday regarding anti-terrorism.
He said that modern terrorists are also adapting, taking to social media to promote their propaganda.
His speech also reminds us that such extremists do not represent Islam (or any religion), and the real question is how we deal with such groups.
Singapore Will Handle It A Different Way From France
Mr Shanmugam also says that despite both countries promoting freedom of religion, each approaches it differently.
“France says that they prefer to achieve it by taking a hands-off approach, we are interventionists, we intervene.”
He mentions that our free speech does not cross the boundary of insulting a religion.
Along with this are also policies that are fair to everyone while maintaining respect and protecting all religions.
Featured Image: Lithuaniakid / Shutterstock.com
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