PM Lee Hsien Loong: Islamophobia as bad and unacceptable as terrorism

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Islamophobia is as bad and unacceptable as radical terrorism, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

He warned against letting anti-Muslim sentiments take root, hours after news broke that two Singaporean auxiliary police officers had been arrested under the Internal Security Act for their links to terrorism.

Singaporean auxiliary police officer Muhammad Khairul Mohamed, 24, was detained under the Internal Security Act for planning to take part in armed violence in Syria. His colleague at AETOS, Mohamad Rizal Wahid, 36, was put under a restriction order for supporting Khairul’s intentions to fight in Syria.

Earlier this month, infant-care assistant Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari, 22, was detained for planning to join the Islamic State group, making her the first female Singaporean to be detained for radicalism.

“I think it will cause some anxiety, both among the Muslim community, because they will worry that they are coming under the spotlight, and also among the non-Muslim community,” Mr Lee told reporters on the sidelines of an iftar, or breaking of fast event at Tanglin Police Division headquarters.

Noted that Khairul and Rizal were auxiliary police officers, he said: “It’s necessary for us to remind ourselves that, in fact, AETOS, Certis Cisco, the Home Team, SPF (Singapore Police Force) – they have been doing an outstanding job keeping Singapore safe.

“That’s one of the reasons why I decided to come and do iftar here today – to show my support for the Home Team and my confidence in the Home Team,” Mr Lee said.


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