The road to redemption: How two radicalised youths in Singapore shed violence and extremism

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VIEWING” AGAIN AND AGAIN” Images

Hamzah claimed that his actions were against his nature and that he frequently watched videos of gruesome murders to cold himself.

” I remember repeatedly watching videos of persons burning alive … and in the fight area, shooting men… I forced myself just to watch it so that I’m mentally prepared.”

Because I’m not accustomed to this kind of way, I felt a little horrified. However, I simply force myself.

When Daniel continued to support the Islamic State despite being under investigation by the Internal Security Department( ISD) and receiving spiritual counseling, he missed an earlier opportunity to alter the course o his life.

After defacing a photo of President Halimah Yacob and requesting that the Islamic State kill her in 2017, the then-15-year-old was the subject of an investigation. He continued to support the violent organization and was ultimately imprisoned in 2020.

” I thought it was a study of my devotion and loyalty to ISIS ( Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) especially when I was investigated for the first time ,” he said.

Recovery is an art, not a science, according to Ustaz Rijal, who also told CNA that success can be measured. There is no set account, and each situation is distinct.

The primary thing they have in common, as far as I can tell, is that they want to contribute to the church. They think that doing this is what the church requires of them and what they are required to do as Muslims, he said.

His job is to get these radicalized people back from the brink of murder and lead them away from extremism, as well as that of the psychologists, mentors and situation workers in the recovery process.

TWO Various TRAVELS

Mr. Salim Mohamed Nasir was struck by a sense of experience when he first met Hamzah in an ISD hold option.

The 62-year-old teacher remarked,” I felt like I could relate to him, like he could be my son. It’s just that my Son( took) this path, and then( he ) took the other path. So, to me, the selection of pathways is very, very important.

Following the discovery and capture of a Jemaah Islamiyah ( JI ) terrorist cell in Singapore, Mr. Salim has volunteered with the RRG since its inception in 2003. & nbsp,

ISD collaborates with the RRG and Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, both charity organizations, in the restoration and reintegration of people who have been detained or given limitations purchases.

Hamzah did not have someone to help him choose the right direction when he became radicalized, according to Mr. Salim. Bright and charming by character, he began advising Hamzah in 2015.

He claimed that these people have erred because of circumstances in which they believed they were correct but were not.

When Hamzah was a child, his family was” as rigid” about religion. He attended three hours of spiritual instruction at a institution each day after primary school, but these stopped once he began secondary school.

His family remembered him as a happy and loving child who took care of his three younger sisters and was well-liked by his classmates when she spoke to CNA.

However, his radicalization took hold once he was exposed to extremist and harsh content.

When he told his mother about his plans to join the Islamic State in Syria, she was the only one who truly understood what was going on. She tried to discourage him and advised him to concentrate on his studies and finding employment after being shocked and disappointed, but this was ignored. & nbsp,

Hamzah was immediately skeptical of the Islamic State’s justification for violence and deaths because he had grown up learning that Islam promotes harmony and non-violence.

However, radicalized preachers’ sermons convinced him otherwise, and he began to feel a strong personal pull toward the insurgents. Hearing about the deaths or torture of some Muslims equally” played with my emotions ,” Hamzah claimed.

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Thai general election: Voters in the north weigh options as lingering smoky air chokes locals

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Move Forward wants to enact a ban on agricultural products that contribute to the burning problem, including those imported from neighbouring countries that then enter Thailand tax-free.

As part of a wider agenda, the party wants provincial governors directly elected – instead of being appointed by the central government – to decentralise key decisions and budgets and put them in the hands of local administrators instead.

“Solving various problems is a complex issue. The government should cooperate with other countries sincerely and honestly. Food security is important, and our government can ban agricultural products that come from burning,” said Phetcharat Maichompoo, the party’s district 1 candidate in Chiang Mai.

“We will allocate 3 million baht (US$88,000) to each sub-district to help eradicate forest fires in the forest areas. This includes purchasing equipment and managing fuel in the area.

“I used to be a volunteer forest firefighter, so I know well that the government does not have as much budget as it should have and makes it hard to fix the problem directly,” she added. 

Those on the front line – like Nattapon Singtoen, head of the wildfire volunteer team of the Mirror Foundation – agree more resources to deal with the annual problem need to be provided on a local level by whoever is in office.

“If political parties recognise this issue and take it seriously, there can be a deployment of various technological resources to combat the fires. This will make the situation less burdensome,” he said.

“There are many measures that can reduce these problems, but the issue may not disappear if the government does not understand the severity of the situation.”

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Commentary: Modern-day parenting requires a rethink of traditional discipline methods

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I turned out okay despite being caned as a child.

When it comes to the use of physical punishment, our study discovered & nbsp, a enduring intergenerational link. Even parents who disapproved of its use claimed that their own childhood experiences had caused them to” subconsciously” default to it out of” muscle memory.”

Making the decision to raise separately requires effort and intention. In addition to having to accept the pain of our culture, we also need to let go of deeply ingrained societal and personal notions about physical skill.

But what common myths does it have, and how can we dispel them?

You may be familiar with the saying” I grew up being caned and I did good.”

Young adult participants in our experiment who were actually disciplined as children grew up had poorer mood regulation, self-esteem, and parent-child links.

Yes, we may be able to carry on with our daily activities, but if we examine our social and emotional self more closely, can we deal with unpleasant moods in a healthy way? Is our sense of worth determined by how some people view us? Do we have a healthy, happy relationship with our kids? Beyond what we might perceive on the surface, these are crucial indicators that indicate whether bodily skill has had an impact on us.

Another common misunderstanding is that” External discipline is acceptable as long as I am composed and sensible when I use it.”

The families in our study also believed that using physical punishment was acceptable as long as the parents were in control of their emotions. Unfortunately, though, they frequently weren’t.

Otherwise, as demonstrated in the case of this family, the majority of the parents reported feeling extremely angry or frustrated at the time, and physical skill was usually used on impulse:

” Usually, it depends more on my mood and my stress than what they did. If I’m really agitated out, I don’t really believe and I react to the situation, so I end up actually punishing them.”

Now, is it even possible to discipline kids physically” cautiously” or” measured”? Could parents choose to discipline their children in a different, non-physical way if they were( actually) calm in the moment?

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First condominium launch after new cooling measures sees 70% sales

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Huttons Asia’s CEO Mark Yip said Blossoms By The Park was the best-selling Rest of Central Region (RCR) project in 2023 so far, based on percentage.

“The excellent sales were down to a few reasons. The first being the count of properties owned by buyers. Huttons estimated more than 90 per cent were first-time buyers, hence (they were) unaffected by the cooling measures,” said Mr Yip.

He also cited the investment appeal of homes in the one-north area.

“The cooling measures were targeted at a small group of buyers and first-time buyers were not affected. The excellent sales will give confidence to buyers who may be sitting on the fence to commit if their finances permit,” he added.

The 99-year leasehold project has 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom unit types in a 27-storey block, and the units ranged from about S$1.3 million to about S$3.3 million.

Mr Lim Yew Soon, managing director of EL Development, said they were “heartened” by the response and that the large majority of buyers were Singaporeans.

CEO of ERA Realty Network Marcus Chu said that typically, more than 80 per cent of home buyers in the RCR are Singaporeans and they may not be “affected or too affected” by the increase in ABSD rates.

Urban Redevelopment Authority statistics released on Friday showed that the prices of private homes in Singapore has increased by 3.3 per cent, up from the 0.4 rise in the fourth quarter of last year.

City Developments Limited told CNA on Friday that it has postponed the preview of its luxury freehold development Newport Residences following the latest cooling measures, although other private launches are set to go ahead.

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‘Not a black-and-white’ matter: Mufti of Singapore sets out detailed views on LGBT issues

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Dr Janil: Did you personally have an intellectual struggle?

Dr Nazirudin: I do, of course. And my particular struggle is again in trying to place values that are taught in my faith. Compassion, empathy, kindness, charity, in the context of what we’re dealing with, with people who hold on to different values, in terms of sexuality, and even the ideas of family and relationships. At the same time to recognise there is a line that has to be drawn at some point between religious authority and individual autonomy.

At some point, our authority stops, and the individual’s autonomy takes over. They have the choice to make their own decisions, guided by the moral conscience and compass. Our role is to provide that moral compass from a religious standpoint. How do we do that? How do we balance it very carefully? And this is for the longer term good of society and the community. I think that is a struggle that continues with me. And I think we are just in the process of starting to talk about it more openly and trying to find what are the best directions ahead.

Dr Janil: Have your views and positions changed as a result of the struggle?

Dr Nazirudin: I think it’s a cardinal rule, in my job and in in issuance of guidance, religious guidance, to really understand and understand correctly and comprehensively what we’re dealing with. And I think that there’s a lot to be, still yet to be understood. So we can’t pretend that we know everything and I think as we move on, certain things will evolve. And our thoughts on this will also mature accordingly.

Dr Janil: You talked about taking time to consult, to gather views. But society and the world can change quite fast. How do you ensure the relevance of religion to that process then if there’s a need to go slow to gather all the views, and yet, the world is changing fast around you?

Dr Nazirudin: If you look at the LGBT issue in other parts of the world, in some countries they are very far ahead on the scale of how they deal with homosexuality and LGBT issues. Some have gone way beyond in terms of gender identity and dealing with those kinds of issues. But at the same time, you also see that in those kinds of societies, the discourse is getting a lot more complicated. In other words, there are counter-movements within the society, because there are new concerns that emerge.

So I think, if anything, it tells us that with this kind of very profound social changes, I think it needs time, in as much as there is a very strong desire for things to move quickly and change quickly, I think we need time to process what is going on around us. We’re not speaking of decades of thinking about issues, but at least you need to think of a thorough, robust and comprehensive process of hearing different voices, to first understand the issues accurately, and then look at your traditions, look at the principles and values and how these relate to those kinds of changes.

Today, we look at the implications, for example of massive industrialisation and the impact on the climate. So we are beginning to ask ourselves very fundamental questions of our duties and responsibilities to the world, to the climate to the environment. And so there is always a kind of a rethink as to what would have been the better approaches in dealing with progress in that sense. And I think this social challenge that we have, social issue that we’re dealing with, it’s also an example of why we should spend enough time to think about it and put forth a response that I think, would at least relate to the challenge and resonate with people in dealing with the challenge and not to take a quite a simplistic approach in the interest of, you know, rushing through things.

And I could be wrong, but I personally feel that it is my responsibility to exhaust all avenues of thinking about issues, and give the issues due consideration before coming up with any particular position. In particular this involves a very fundamental shift in our society.

Dr Janil: But along the way, there are frictions within the community as these matters remain unresolved. I’ve met individuals who say they are gay and Muslim. I’ve met individuals who will say that you can’t be both. One of the individuals that I’ve met says that he’s welcome in the mosque, even though he is known as someone who’s gay. But his friends wonder why he’s allowed in the mosque. How do you deal with and resolve these types of frictions within the community?

Dr Nazirudin: Specifically to the issue of Muslims, I think one of the important aspects of talking about friction is really, what are the sources of friction in these kinds of situations. One of which is that there is still some level of uncertainty for many people on what is the religious attitude towards homosexuals and homosexuality in general. As it relates to religious practice, as it relates to religious spaces. So some may think that you should welcome anyone who comes to the mosque, some others may think that, well, the mosque is not a place for homosexuals, for example. When someone comes to the mosque, what is the first question that we ask and you think of? I think the first question should be that this is a Muslim, who wants to go to the mosque, and get closer to God, have a closer relationship with his or her Creator. 

As a Muslim, as a believer, whatever the sexual orientation, which, in most cases, would be a private matter for the individual, is something not for us to question, not for us to judge at the point in which someone comes to the mosque. Otherwise, you would need to ask, and it’s, it’s completely wrong practice. Everyone who comes to the mosque, on their private life, or other aspects of their, of their personal life. And I think that is not the right thing to do as Muslims, and as a religious institution.

So one of the sources of friction is really about understanding the religious position and attitude towards such individuals or segments within the community. And this is something we are working on as well. But the other important thing, insofar as the source of friction, I think, is really because for some people, this is a conflict that needs to be resolved with one winner at the end, whether it’s mainstream Islam or the majority, and that’s almost a kind of a zero-sum game mentality, which I think it’s not the right attitude to adopt in dealing with this kind of complex challenges.

Dr Janil: You talked about not wanting a zero-sum game mentality amongst the people who consider this. Why is that important? Is there a danger that you’re worried about?

Dr Nazirudin: I think it’s because we recognise that for some individuals there have been accounts of their personal struggles of abuse, of ridicule, of rejection, that has led to various types of harm that they have been through and put through.

Dr Janil: Because they’re LGBT?

Dr Nazirudin: Because they’re LGBT. But there’s also the very genuine fear and concern and anxiety within the larger segment of the community insofar as what the future will look like. We share this fear and anxiety. But we are also aware of the hurt and pain that people have gone through, and I don’t think, and especially in our religious institutions, that our role, or what we do, should exacerbate that hurt and pain and prolong it. 

Our role is to find ways for people to heal, that hurt and pain to heal. So, if you have a winner, then you have someone who will basically be happy with an outcome in which LGBT individuals, for example, are not allowed to come to the mosque. But then it destroys their faith, it destroys their identity as Muslims, and vice versa, as well.

So I think we need to find ways in which you know, we can meet in between, and recognising that there are aspects of the faith that are very personal and private. There are aspects of the faith that are public. And it’s about managing this, which we have to look into very carefully and find ways. And that would be the next steps that we will need to think of.

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‘Unlikely’ that temperatures in Singapore will reach 40°C in coming weeks: NEA

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SINGAPORE: Despite the recent warm weather, the temperature in Singapore is “unlikely” to hit 40 degrees Celsius in the coming weeks, said the National National Environment Agency (NEA), in response to a text message being circulated.

In a Facebook post on Friday (Apr 28), NEA said it was aware of this text message, which purports to warn Singaporeans of a possible incoming heatwave between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. 

“It is unlikely for the temperature in Singapore to reach a high of 40 degrees Celsius in the coming weeks,” said NEA. 

“Although we have been experiencing warmer days in recent weeks, the temperatures were not record-breaking.”  

Singapore’s highest temperature recorded was 37 degrees Celsius on Apr 17, 1983. 

The inter-monsoon months of April and May are normally the warmer period of the year due to strong solar heating, light and variable wind conditions, said the agency.

April has been generally warm, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 34 degrees Celsius on most days, said NEA. As of Thursday, daily maximum temperatures have exceeded 34 degrees Celsius on 17 days, and eight of those days registered temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or more. 

The highest daily maximum temperature was 36.1 degrees Celsius at Woodlands on Apr 14. It was also the highest temperature recorded so far this year. 

Prevailing inter-monsoon conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks, and the daily maximum temperature can still be expected to reach 34 or 35 degrees Celsius in the afternoon on most days, said NEA. 

On a few days when there is less cloud cover, the daily maximum temperature could reach a high of about 36 degrees Celsius.

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Commentary: Yes, we’re already paying service charge, GST and delivery fees, but it’s still nice to tip

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CULTURAL SHIFTS

Cultural shifts take time. When we, as a whole, recognise that supporting the community around us leads to a better, happier world, the shift will happen.

F&B is hard work and I am very grateful to the chefs who prepare our meals, servers who make sure we get our lunches, and delivery riders who bring us our dinners when we need to eat at home.

Every tip we give counts. It is all about how we perceive tipping.

Think of it as part of the cost of your meal, just as I rather quickly did in Toronto, that my milkshake cost C$5.20, not C$4. Think of tipping not as a cost increase, but supporting good work, supporting your community.

If service charge is removed, the actual cost hasn’t changed for you. And if service charge remains, any amount you can afford to give goes a long way. Servers know this and appreciate it.

When fellow servers see good service appreciated, they may well follow suit. This creates a butterfly effect and soon, service quality will rise, resulting in a trickle-down effect to other services that encourage tips like food delivery.

During the Apr 14 to 16 weekend, foodpanda launched a “double tips, double love” campaign, matching every dollar that riders received in tips from customers on the platform. The feedback on social media was encouraging.

In an interview with CNA last year, Grab too said that the tipping feature on the app had been well-received, suggesting an appreciation for platform workers.

Paradigm shifts take time and if enough business owners and diners do this, it will become normalised.

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IN FOCUS: The global scourge of child porn – how does it spread and what is Singapore doing about it?

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“PARTICULARLY DISTRESSING”: PROSECUTOR

When the authorities manage to identify and nab the perpetrators, they are charged in court. But before that, investigators and prosecutors such as Mr Chong have to sift through the evidence, with some cases involving thousands of videos. 

“Many of us felt nauseous when we viewed such clips, as they involved young toddlers or infants being harmed. It is particularly distressing when we can see or hear the children in distress or pain,” Mr Chong told CNA.

“Personally, I always feel most affected when I see a child unsuccessfully trying to cover their face when being filmed, as even this tiny bit of dignity is being taken away from them.

“There can also be feelings of helplessness, as the children appear to be in faraway countries. These children may never be rescued, and the people involved in inflicting such unspeakable harm may never face justice.”

He has advised his colleagues to take frequent breaks when reviewing such material, and to do it in the mornings so that the images “do not become the last thing we work on before going home for the day”.

Nevertheless, he said that their job was to remain objective and impartial no matter how grave the offence, and that they find it rewarding to successfully prosecute such cases.

Since the dedicated laws came into effect in 2020, the culpability of offenders has been “tiered” at every level, said the prosecutor.

Offenders who are involved in the production of such material can be jailed for up to 10 years. Those who download, stream, access, or possess such films can be punished with up to five years’ imprisonment. Caning and fines can also be imposed.

Those who distribute child sexual abuse material can be jailed for up to seven years, caned, fined, or a combination of those punishments. Before the new laws, such offenders could only be prosecuted for transmitting obscene material, which carried an imprisonment term of up to only three months and/or a fine.

THE REHABILITATION PROCESS

Following a conviction, some offenders will serve time behind bars and be placed in rehabilitation programmes.

The prison service said that offenders will undergo a psychological assessment to identify their risk of reoffending and intervention needs.

These psychological interventions aim to help them address problems with:

  • Interpersonal relationships
  • Self-regulation, such as difficulties in controlling inappropriate impulses or sexual urges
  • Negative attitudes that support sexual offending
  • Responsible use of the internet and other problematic online behaviours
  • Using leisure time meaningfully

After this, inmates are guided to develop individualised risk management plans. Inmates will also undergo other rehabilitative activities, like work, religious counselling and family-based programmes.

After their release, they may also be referred to relevant agencies in the community for further counselling and support, if a psychologist assesses it to be necessary.

People who committed serious offences as specified in the First Schedule of the Prisons Act – which includes crimes involving child sexual abuse material – are required to undergo mandatory supervision and aftercare support upon their release. This includes curfew hours and electronic monitoring.

SPS said: “With the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme, better protection of society is achieved through closer supervision … of these serious crime offenders after their release, as well as enhanced aftercare support such as case management to assist their reintegration and reduce their reoffending risk.”

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15 cafes and restaurants you can refuel at after you’ve walked these hiking trails around Singapore

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Social Smoker begins grilling only in the evening, so plan appropriately. They serve meat platters for two, three, or five, all of which are spiced, seared and sliced on a custom-built, S$20,000-smoker from Ole Hickory Pits in Missouri. Accompany your meats with Maple Sprouts or Cornbread Bibingka, and top it off with a cup of sake, a glass of natural wine, or a refreshing craft beer from local brewery, Niang Brewery.

2. Cava

Not far from Social Smoker is Cava, an all-day brunch destination that joined the scene in 2022. In contrast to the cafes along Upper Thomson Road, it is exceedingly spacious, capable of accommodating pets, bicycles, and diners coming from MacRitchie Reservoir without seating them elbow to elbow. It even has room for antiquity, housing one of Singapore’s last remaining wells.

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