STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT- Singapore has barred the entry of Indonesian Muslim preacher Abdul Somad Batubara (known as UAS, red), citing the preacher’s “extremist and segregationist teachings.” On Tuesday, Singapore’s Home Ministry said that Abdul Somad’s preachings were “unacceptable for Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.”
The ministry cited Abdul Somad’s preaching that suicide bombings were legitimate in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, considering them as martyrdom, as well as his comments deemed denigrating of members of other faith communities and public-related non-Muslims as kafirs (infidels).
“A visitor’s entry into Singapore is neither automatic nor a right. Each case is assessed on its own merits. Although Somad attempted to enter Singapore ostensibly for a social visit, the Singapore government takes a serious view of any persons who advocate violence and/or espouse extremist and segregationist teachings,” Singapore’s Home Ministry said in a statement published on Tuesday.
The social media accounts of a number of political holders and government agencies have been spammed by supporters of an Indonesian preacher who was denied entry into Singapore on Monday, said Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information spokesperson on Wednesday.
Indonesia religious teacher Abdul Somad was denied entry to Singapore. His followers have decried Islamophobia as being behind the decision. This cannot be farther from the truth. The Singapore government’s decision to deny Ustaz Abdul Somad entry into the country has created some ‘buzz’ among netizens in Indonesia and Singapore.
The Indonesian religious teacher, who was planning to enter Singapore for a social visit with his family and friends, was stopped at Singapore immigration. Some of his ardent followers declared Islamophobia, or the prejudiced fear of Islam, as the reason for the incident.
Abdul Somad immediately took to social media to share his ‘plight’ and complained about the way he was treated, including being asked to wait in a 1 by 2 metre room. This garnered sympathy among his followers, who later spammed the Facebook pages of Singapore politicians and agencies with negative comments.
Among the Facebook pages affected were those of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and President Halimah Yaacob. Targeting the Singapore leaders in this way only shows that Abdul Somad’s sympathisers are digitally literate and savvy enough to target Singapore leaders who command significant online presence.
To be sure, Abdul Somad was not deported from Singapore as claimed by his followers because he had not even entered Singapore. On 16 May, he was stopped at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, and returned to Indonesia along with his six travel companions on the same day. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs, his views are not in sync with Singapore’s multi-racial and multireligious underpinnings.
Among others, Abdul Somad considers suicide bombing to be permissible in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and believes in the martyrdom of Palestinians who carry out such attacks. He has also made derogative remarks about Christianity by saying that ‘infidel jinns’ (or spirits) live on the crucifix.
In the same vein, he has cautioned Muslims against travelling in ambulances with the symbol of the crucifix (read: the Red Cross). He has also characterised Shi’ism as dangerous and forbade Muslims from wishing non-Muslims ‘Merry Christmas’ (Red/many sources).
