Statement of ISA detainee Zulfikar’s family provided misleading picture, MHA

The following is the Ministry of Home Affairs’ response to the press release by the family of Internal Security Act detainee, Zulfikar Shariff.

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ISD’s investigation into Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff was for terrorism related activities, and covered a number of aspects. First, the investigation showed that Zulfikar had contributed to the radicalisation of two people, Muhammad Shamin bin Mohamed Sidik, who is currently detained under the Internal Security Act, and Mohamed Saiddhin bin Abdullah, currently on Restriction Order.

Muhammad Shamin had been radicalised to the extent that he wanted to go to the Middle-East to fight with ISIS. Second, admissions given by Zulfikar to ISD during the investigation. Third, evidence from other persons who were interviewed by ISD. Fourth, Zulfikar’s public statements which had been made online.

The Statement issued today by Zulfikar’s family only deals with one aspect of ISD’s investigation, and provides a misleading picture. For example, it suggests that Zulfikar did not post any radical views after 2014, which is untrue.

It is also clear that Zulfikar supported violence by ISIS, including beheadings, and that at a broader level, he supported the idea of a global Islamic caliphate and the use of violence to achieve this.

On the basis of all the evidence, Zulfikar was established to be a security threat to Singapore and an Order for Detention was issued against him. Zulfikar will have the opportunity in due course to present his case to the ISA Advisory Board, which advises the President whether the Order of Detention should remain in force.

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Statement from Zulfikar’s family here: https://theindependent.sg.sg/zulfikars-views-of-extremist-islamic-organisations-has-changed-since-2015-family-of-man-detained-under-isa-claims.