The Singapore government has banned a newspaper published by Furat Media, an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliated media agency.
The newspaper, Al Fatihin, was gazetted as a prohibited publication under the Undesirable Publications Act, according to a statement by the Ministry for Communications and Information (MCI) on Friday (July 22).
MCI said the ISIS poses a serious threat to the security of Singapore, and that the Malay-language newspaper was another step by the terror group to spread its propaganda abroad with a “clear intention to radicalise and recruit Southeast Asians to join them”.
Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said: “Extremism has no place in Singapore – it cannot and must not take root here.”
He added that the Government takes a “very strong stance against terrorist propaganda” and will enforce “decisive action as necessary”.
Under the Undesirable Publications Act, it is an offence to distribute the newspaper by any means in Singapore. Any individual found in possession of the newspaper but does not surrender it to the authorities can be fined up to $10,000, or jailed for up to three years, or face both penalties.
ssandrea@sph.com.sg
