https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...ack-2-mosques-released-rehabilitation-4070061
Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque. (Images: Google Street View)
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean student who was detained in December 2020 for making "detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks" against Muslims has been released after making "good progress" in his rehabilitation, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Wednesday (Jan 24).
The 19-year-old, who was 16 when he was detained, was the first Singaporean to be dealt with under the country's Internal Security Act (ISA) for being radicalised by far-right extremist ideologies.
He had planned to use a machete to attack Muslims at two mosques in the Woodlands area on Mar 15, 2020, the second anniversary of New Zealand's Christchurch attacks.
He chose Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque as targets because they were near his home.
The youth, who was not named, is a Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity. He was also the youngest person to be dealt with under the ISA for terrorism-related activities, ISD said at the time.
ISD said the self-radicalised teen was "motivated by a strong antipathy towards Islam and a fascination with violence".
He had been influenced by the 2019 terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch and read the manifesto of the attacker, Brenton Tarrant.
Following three years of detention, ISD said the youth was released and issued with a suspension direction as he had made "good progress in his rehabilitation" and was "assessed to no longer pose an imminent security threat".
A suspension direction is a ministerial direction to suspend an existing detention order. The suspension direction may be revoked and the individual will be re-detained if he does not comply with any of the stipulated conditions.
The conditions include prohibition from associating with any militant or terrorist groups or individuals, and the person is not allowed to leave the country without approval.
INTENSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
The youth in the first case underwent an intensive rehabilitation programme during his three years in detention, ISD said.
"He has been receptive to these efforts and has since rejected far-right extremist ideas and the use of violence.
"He no longer harbours any animosity towards Muslims, and has internalised the importance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore," it added.
Carousell listing of a machete that the youth intended to purchase for the attacks. (Photo: ISD)
To address his extremist mindset, which included the misguided belief that Christians were under attack by Muslims, ISD said it worked with the National Council of Churches of Singapore to arrange for a Christian pastor to counsel the youth.
Through the sessions, he was taught to embrace "virtues of non-violence and temperance, and to appreciate inter-faith harmony" as well as to exercise tolerance and moderation when practising his faith in Singapore.
He was also regularly engaged by an ISD psychologist to address his "permissive attitude towards violence" as well as the socio-psychological factors that contributed to his radicalisation.
These included his self-esteem issues and strong desire for social validation, which made him want to emulate Tarrant, whom he idolised as a "hero".
The youth was also assigned three mentors – two volunteers from the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and his former secondary school teacher – who helped him improve his self-esteem and overcome the challenges he faced when relating to others.
His family also played a key role in his rehabilitation, as their weekly visits and words of encouragement motivated him to stay on track, ISD said.
A Secondary 4 student at the time of his detention, ISD made arrangements for him to continue his education and sit for the GCE N (Academic) Level and GCE O-Level examinations.
In the lead-up to his exams, he received weekly lessons from at least five tutors, including Ministry of Education-trained teachers who are RRG volunteers.
“He did well for his examinations and intends to further his studies in an Institute of Higher Learning after his release.”
“ISD will continue to work with his family, school, and other rehabilitation stakeholders to ease his reintegration into society,” it said.
-----------------------------
Singaporean student who planned to attack mosques released from ISA detention after 'good progress' in rehabilitation
The youth, who was 16 when he was detained, was the first Singaporean to be dealt with under ISA for being radicalised by far-right extremist ideology.
Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque. (Images: Google Street View)
- The Singaporean student was 16 when he was detained in December 2020 for making "detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks" against Muslims
- The teen had been influenced by the 2019 terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand
- ISD said the youth underwent an intensive rehabilitation programme and is assessed to "no longer pose an imminent security threat"
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean student who was detained in December 2020 for making "detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks" against Muslims has been released after making "good progress" in his rehabilitation, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Wednesday (Jan 24).
The 19-year-old, who was 16 when he was detained, was the first Singaporean to be dealt with under the country's Internal Security Act (ISA) for being radicalised by far-right extremist ideologies.
He had planned to use a machete to attack Muslims at two mosques in the Woodlands area on Mar 15, 2020, the second anniversary of New Zealand's Christchurch attacks.
He chose Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque as targets because they were near his home.
The youth, who was not named, is a Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity. He was also the youngest person to be dealt with under the ISA for terrorism-related activities, ISD said at the time.
ISD said the self-radicalised teen was "motivated by a strong antipathy towards Islam and a fascination with violence".
He had been influenced by the 2019 terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch and read the manifesto of the attacker, Brenton Tarrant.
Following three years of detention, ISD said the youth was released and issued with a suspension direction as he had made "good progress in his rehabilitation" and was "assessed to no longer pose an imminent security threat".
A suspension direction is a ministerial direction to suspend an existing detention order. The suspension direction may be revoked and the individual will be re-detained if he does not comply with any of the stipulated conditions.
The conditions include prohibition from associating with any militant or terrorist groups or individuals, and the person is not allowed to leave the country without approval.
INTENSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
The youth in the first case underwent an intensive rehabilitation programme during his three years in detention, ISD said.
"He has been receptive to these efforts and has since rejected far-right extremist ideas and the use of violence.
"He no longer harbours any animosity towards Muslims, and has internalised the importance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore," it added.
Carousell listing of a machete that the youth intended to purchase for the attacks. (Photo: ISD)
To address his extremist mindset, which included the misguided belief that Christians were under attack by Muslims, ISD said it worked with the National Council of Churches of Singapore to arrange for a Christian pastor to counsel the youth.
Through the sessions, he was taught to embrace "virtues of non-violence and temperance, and to appreciate inter-faith harmony" as well as to exercise tolerance and moderation when practising his faith in Singapore.
He was also regularly engaged by an ISD psychologist to address his "permissive attitude towards violence" as well as the socio-psychological factors that contributed to his radicalisation.
These included his self-esteem issues and strong desire for social validation, which made him want to emulate Tarrant, whom he idolised as a "hero".
The youth was also assigned three mentors – two volunteers from the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and his former secondary school teacher – who helped him improve his self-esteem and overcome the challenges he faced when relating to others.
His family also played a key role in his rehabilitation, as their weekly visits and words of encouragement motivated him to stay on track, ISD said.
A Secondary 4 student at the time of his detention, ISD made arrangements for him to continue his education and sit for the GCE N (Academic) Level and GCE O-Level examinations.
In the lead-up to his exams, he received weekly lessons from at least five tutors, including Ministry of Education-trained teachers who are RRG volunteers.
“He did well for his examinations and intends to further his studies in an Institute of Higher Learning after his release.”
“ISD will continue to work with his family, school, and other rehabilitation stakeholders to ease his reintegration into society,” it said.
-----------------------------
