Singapore strongly condemns 'horrific murder' of US journalist by IS

Channel NewsAsia, 21 Aug 2014

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it strongly condemns the actions of the Islamic State (IS), after the group released a video of one of its militants beheading an American journalist.

"The violent campaigns against minority groups in northern Iraq, the systematic and widespread abuses of human rights, and the horrific murder of American journalist James Foley, attest to the serious and immediate nature of the ISIS threat," an MFA spokesman said in a statement to the media on Thursday (Aug 21).

MFA said it conveys deepest condolences to the families of Mr Foley and other victims, and it is calling for the immediate release of all hostages by IS.

"There is an urgent need for the international community to work together to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups such as ISIS," said the MFA spokesman.

He added that Singapore firmly supports United Nations Security Council Resolution which "condemns in the strongest terms, the terrorist acts and violent extremist ideology of ISIS" and urges all UN member states to take appropriate measures to combat terrorism.

Earlier on Thursday, Singapore's Minister of Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim also called on countries to "rally together to stop the group's barbaric acts".

Beheading of US journalist by IS 'barbaric': Yaacob Ibrahim
Channel NewsAsia, 21 Aug 2014

In a Facebook post on Thursday (Aug 21), Minister of Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said he was "shocked and appalled" at the beheading of US journalist James Foley by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.

ISIS on Tuesday posted a video depicting the execution of Mr Foley, who was seized in Syria in November 2012, and threatened to kill a second reporter unless the US halts air strikes in Iraq. 

Commenting on the act, Dr Yaacob said: "I am shocked and appalled at the beheading of American journalist, James Foley, by the ISIS militants in Iraq. Such gruesome and inhumane acts carried out by the group on innocent civilians must be condemned.

"The international community must rally together to stop the group’s barbaric acts at once before more innocent lives are lost."

On the same day, Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the actions of the Islamic State militants are "embarrassing" and "humiliating" Islam, and urged Islamic leaders to unite in tackling extremism.

Indonesia president says Islamic State 'embarrassing' religion
Channel NewsAsia, 21 Aug 2014

The president of the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, Indonesia, on Thursday (Aug 21) called the actions of Islamic State militants "embarrassing" to the religion and urged Islamic leaders to unite in tackling extremism.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the scale of the slaughter wrought by the extremists in overrunning large swathes of Iraq and Syria and the level of violence being used was appalling. "It is shocking. It is becoming out of control," he said in an interview with The Australian, a day after IS released a video showing a masked militant beheading US reporter James Foley, provoking worldwide revulsion.

"We do not tolerate it, we forbid ISIS in Indonesia," he added, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as IS was formerly known. "Indonesia is not an Islamic state. We respect all religions."

He also urged international leaders to work together to combat radicalisation. "This is a new wake-up call to international leaders all over the world, including Islamic leaders," he said, adding that the actions of IS were not only "embarrassing" to Islam but "humiliating", the newspaper reported. "All leaders must review how to combat extremism. Changing paradigms on both sides are needed -- how the West perceives Islam and how Islam perceives the West."

Indonesia is home to the world's biggest Muslim population of about 225 million and has long struggled with terrorism. But a successful clampdown in recent years has seen the end of major deadly attacks.

Jakarta has estimated that dozens of Indonesians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight and Yudhoyono said he was concerned about their return, adding that he had tasked agencies to oppose the spread of extremist ideology in the sprawling nation. "Our citizens here in Indonesia are picking up recruitment messages from ISIS containing extremist ideas," said the president, whose decade in office comes to an end in October.

"The philosophy of ISIS stands against the fundamental values we embrace in Indonesia. Last Friday, in my state of the union address to the nation, I called on all Indonesians to reject ISIS and to stop the spread of its radical ideology. My government and security agencies have taken decisive steps to curtail the spread of ISIS in Indonesia, including by prohibiting Indonesians to join ISIS or to fight for ISIS, and also by blocking Internet sites that promote this idea."

Najib condemns ISIS amid more reports of Malaysians in group
Recruits said to include 3 women offering 'sexual comfort' to fighters
By Yong Yen Nie Malaysia Correspondent In Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA'S Prime Minister has strongly condemned the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), saying in his first public comments on the militant group that its actions run "counter to our faith, our culture and our common humanity".

Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday said the government is "appalled" by the actions of the militants and that they do not represent the majority of Muslims.

In a strongly worded statement, he said ISIS is going against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and Islamic law, and Malaysia does not recognise its attempts to convert non-Muslims "over the barrel of a gun".

"We are deeply saddened by the crimes committed in the name of Islam, a religion of peace."

Mr Najib's comments came as more reports surfaced of Malaysians travelling to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS.

Last Thursday, outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also condemned ISIS as "embarrassing" to Islam.

Malaysia, with a population that is 60 per cent Muslim, is known for its religious tolerance and moderate policies on religion.

But there have been rising concerns over increasing religious extremism among young Muslim men and women, some of whom were reportedly recruited via social media to fight for ISIS.

Yesterday, The Malaysian Insider news portal, citing an intelligence official, reported that three Malaysian women have joined ISIS to offer "sexual comfort" to the militant group's fighters.

It quoted the official as saying that the number of Malaysians recruited to be ISIS fighters could be higher than the 30 initially thought by the government.

"Checks with our foreign counterparts and intelligence disseminated reveal that there may be up to 50 Malaysians in the Middle East," the official was quoted as saying by the news portal.

Responding to queries by The Straits Times, a police source confirmed that the three women are now in Syria, with two having gone there last year and the third in April this year.

But the source is uncertain if they are offering sexual services to fighters there.

Ms Elina Noor, an analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, said it is impractical to stop citizens from going to Syria and Iraq.

"At most, law enforcement or legal response can take place only after involvement in conflict has been proven," she said.