‘If you love your child, report him if you think he is being radicalised’: Expert

SINGAPORE – It is natural for youth in Singapore to be affected by global events, like the Israel-Hamas war, which can evoke strong emotions.

If they are not careful, finding information about them in the wrong places can lead them down the path of radicalisation.

But with the right support from family and the community, young people can safely learn about such global conflicts, and avoid thinking that the only way to deal with such situations is through violence, said community groups and experts.

A 14-year-old Secondary 3 student recently became

the youngest person to be issued a restriction order

under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Singapore.

He had been self-radicalised after researching the Israel-Hamas war, which started on Oct 7, 2023, and has left over 40,000 dead.

The teen had planned on carrying out attacks in Singapore during festivals like Chinese New Year, Christmas and Deepavali, and tried to recruit his friends but failed.

On July 15, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said the boy was issued a restriction order in June.

ISD added that his parents had not thought intervention and assistance were necessary, even though they had noticed him expressing increasingly segregationist beliefs.

It said that as part of the boy’s rehabilitation programme, he will undergo religious counselling by the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) to address his religious misperceptions.

Ustaz Mohamed Ali, co-chairman of the RRG, said parents have a very important role to play in such situations.

“Parents are in a position to monitor the online activities of their children, and can detect suspicious behaviours and changes in thinking.

“But in order to do this, parents also need to be guided on the telltale signs of radicalisation,” he added.

Ustaz Mohamed said while it is normal to feel for those affected by the violence elsewhere, many young people may be unable to comprehend such conflicts, and navigate their feelings and responses.

He said: “Because of this lack of understanding, they feel violence begets violence, and they feel there’s no other way but through violence.

“And that’s where guidance comes in, which can only be conducted through continuous engagement with various segments of the community.”

Asked about parents who may not want to report their child for fear of getting them into trouble, Ustaz Mohamed said that it was important for parents to understand there are wider consequences involved.

He said: “It’s not just for their child, it’s for the entire nation. What if the 14-year-old teen had taken a knife and went to an MRT station to kill people?

“This is something parents need to think about. Love for their children is actually reporting them. They can’t just leave their children be in such a situation.”

Mr Abdul Halim Kader, president of Taman Bacaan, or the Singapore Malay Youth Library Association, said many parents are afraid of reporting their children.

He said: “Having spoken to some of the families of radicalised youth, we have to do more in educating them about coming forward. 

“We have to explain to them not to worry, the authorities are not going to put your child underground just because you reported them. Instead, they will be educated, counselled and rehabilitated.”

He likened it to reporting one’s child for drug addiction in the 80s, when most parents thought it would permanently ruin their lives.

He said: “But over time, we helped them understand that reporting gets their child the help needed to turn their lives around. And now, many parents will report their child to seek help for drugs. I think we can learn from this.”

Mr Abdul Halim added that to reach out to parents, Taman Bacaan is considering initiatives on different platforms, including TikTok, podcasts and streaming services.

On July 17, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said

the West’s role in the Gaza conflict has incensed the young in many countries around the world

, not just Muslims.

It also risks radicalising another generation of would-be terrorists in Gaza and elsewhere, said the minister.

At the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado in the US, Dr Ng was asked about the mood among Muslims in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in relation to the West’s role in the conflict.

He used one word to describe the mood – “anger”. He noted that the anger was not confined to only Muslims, but also prevalent among young people in many countries, including Singapore, who are particularly incensed about the violence and the fact that nothing seems to be done to stop it.

Dr Ng said the anger among the young towards the situation in the Middle East is difficult for countries to address, whether they have Muslim populations or not.

Since 2015, ISD has dealt with 13 radicalised people aged 20 and below under the ISA.

National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser, who is also adjunct principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab, has spoken to several detainees.

He said it can be quite easy for young people to get views online relating to issues they are concerned about, which will eventually lead them down some radical “rabbit holes”.

Dr Tan said: “This could serve to awaken the seed of radical views already present in them and, in turn, reinforce and strengthen those views, if left unchecked.”

He said family members and friends who radicalised youth trust and respect have a role to play in helping them think through issues and nudge them towards accepting that there could be solutions other than terrorism.

Dr Tan added: “I gather that for those deep into radical views, it would require the knowledge and wisdom of respected religious teachers over a long period of time to convince them about their errors, for which they may already have invested much time, effort and money.”

Ustaz Mohamed said as violence around the world continues, there will still be the possibility of young people here being radicalised.

He said: “We can’t stop foreign violence from happening. We can’t immediately stop what is happening in the Middle East.

“But what we can do is help our young people navigate their emotions, on how to respond in the Singaporean context.”