Islamic state

The Jakarta gubernatorial election is now mercifully over, although Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama remains behind bars under trumped-up charges. But politically driven sectarian mobilization and attacks against minorities will have long-lasting consequences. Aside from the social and political implications others have noted, the Jakarta election also affects Indonesia’s foreign policy. First, the sectarian mobilization and the criminalization of politics before, during and after the campaign could undermine Indonesia’s regional and global standing. They certainly bring into question Indonesia’s credentials of combining democratic stability with a moderate and tolerant brand of Islam. This model of a “democratic, moderate Islam” has been among Indonesia’s sources of soft power, which Joseph Nye defines as a country’s ability to... Don't have an account? Register here Log in with your social account Facebook Linkedin Disclaimer: The ... » Learn More about INSIGHT: Foreign policy implications of Jakarta’s election

ISLAMABAD: After 20 years of military engagement and billions of dollars spent, NATO and the United States still grapple with the same, seemingly intractable conundrum — how to withdraw troops from Afghanistan without abandoning the country to even more mayhem. An accelerated US drawdown over the past few months, led by the previous US administration, has signaled what may be in store for long-suffering Afghans. Violence is spiking and the culprits are, well, everyone: the Taliban, the Islamic State group, warlords, criminal gangs and corrupt government officials. According to NATO’s website, there are about 9,600 troops currently in Afghanistan, including 2,500 US troops. NATO defense ministers will meet on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the way forward. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is reviewing his predecessor’s 2020 deal with the Taliban, which includes a May 1 deadline for a final US troop withdrawal from the war-ravaged country. In Washington, calls are mounting for ... » Learn More about NATO faces conundrum as it mulls Afghan pullout

Pope Francis releases a white dove near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, in the Iraqi city of Mosul on Sunday. MOSUL, Iraq: Pope Francis prayed Sunday for "victims of war" in northern Iraq, where the Islamic State group ravaged one of the world's oldest Christian communities until the jihadists' defeat three years ago. With the partially collapsed walls of the centuries-old Al-Tahera (Immaculate Conception) Church behind him, Pope Francis pleaded for Christians in Iraq and the Middle East to stay in their homelands. The 84-year-old pontiff said the "tragic" exodus of Christians from Iraq and the wider region "does incalculable harm not just to the individuals and communities concerned, but also to the society they leave behind". The IS onslaught forced hundreds of thousands of Christians in northern Iraq's Nineveh province to flee. The country's Christian population has shrunk to fewer than 400,000 from around 1.5 million before the US-led ... » Learn More about Pope Francis prays for ‘victims of war’ in north Iraq

SINGAPORE - While many of his peers were online to chat with friends or do research for homework, Daniel (not his real name) in 2017 was using the Internet for a sinister purpose. Only 15 years old then, he was already walking down the dark path of radicalisation - aligning himself to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group, which was spreading its propaganda through online channels. In September that year, he posted on social media images of President Halimah Yacob that he had defaced, and called on ISIS to behead her. It triggered an investigation by the Internal Security Department (ISD). The department learnt that the boy was introduced to pro-ISIS social media groups by a foreign online contact. Through these groups, he gained access to what he believed was exclusive ISIS content. It gave him a surge of confidence which boosted his self-esteem and sense of belonging. Recounting the case on Wednesday (Feb 3) in a release, the ISD said Daniel became ... » Learn More about Self-radicalised youth went from ISIS supporter to star student with rehabilitation: ISD

SINGAPORE - Terror suspects in Singapore detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) undergo a rehabilitation process which involves religious, psychological and social aspects. The approach is a "holistic, intensive and long-term one", the Internal Security Department (ISD) said in a media statement on Wednesday (Feb 3). The statement was the first time the ISD disclosed in detail how terror suspects are handled. It came a week after the department revealed that a 16-year-old Protestant Christian youth had been detained under the ISA in December for planning terrorist attacks on two mosques. Each rehabilitation programme is customised to a detainee or Restriction Order (RO) supervisee's unique circumstances, with extensive collaboration between the various rehabilitation stakeholders to maximise the chances of successful rehabilitation for the individuals, said the ISD. "ISD realised early on that we cannot rely on kinetic approaches alone to tackle the terrorism threat ... » Learn More about ISD details terror suspects’ rehabilitation for first time

SINGAPORE - A 16-year-old Singaporean student has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for planning to attack two mosques and kill worshippers in Singapore on March 15 this year - the second anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. A Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity, he is the first detainee to be influenced by far-right extremist ideology and the youngest person detained under the ISA for terrorism-related activities to date, said the Internal Security Department (ISD) on Wednesday (Jan 27). The Secondary 4 Normal (Academic) student was found to have made detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks using a machete against Muslims at two mosques here, the ISD said. He had chosen Assyafaah Mosque in Sembawang - which he intended to attack first - and Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands as his targets because they were near his home, it added. Influenced by the Christchurch attacker Brenton Tarrant , the youth had mapped out his ... » Learn More about 16-year-old Singaporean detained under ISA for planning terrorist attacks on two mosques

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo received the country's first Covid-19 jab on Wednesday, as the government kicked off a mass vaccination drive to clamp down on soaring case rates. In a procedure broadcast live on television, the 59-year-old leader, was inoculated at the state palace along with his health minister and several senior officials, as well as business and religious leaders. "I don't feel it at all," he said with a laugh after receiving the injection, the first of two required. He will get the second at a later date. This week, domestic regulators approved a Covid-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac, announcing that its efficacy stood at a relatively low 65.3 percent, according to tests performed in Indonesia. The Muslim-majority nation's top religious body also approved the vaccine as halal -- meaning permissible under Islam -- in a move that could help convince wary citizens. Previous vaccination drives have met resistance among some segments of the country's ... » Learn More about President Jokowi gets first coronavirus jab

A conservative Muslim group, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), has threatened to report the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, to the National Police, alleging she has insulted Islam. FPI leader Rizieq Shihab said during a hearing with the House of Representatives on Tuesday that his group had yet to make any formal report to the police, but would do so if the police keep responding to reports involving FPI members. He was accusing Megawati of insulting Islam and its six principles of faith, rukun iman , in her speech during the PDI-P’s celebration bash last week. (Read also: Megawati calls on 'silent majority' to counter intolerant groups ) In the speech, Megawati mentioned groups she labeled as “anti-diversity” and accused them of having a “closed ideology” that threatens Indonesia’s unity in diversity. “I have the recording of the speech, which I have watched 10 times, and I found blasphemy against Islam and ... » Learn More about FPI threatens to report Megawati to police for blasphemy

The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has returned fire at the leader of conservative Muslim group the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Rizieq Shihab, after he threatened to report PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri for blasphemy. "Pak Rizieq Shihab has so far spread hatred and divided the nation. All factions of the PDI-P are united in their defense of Ibu chairwoman and the party,” PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said in a statement on Tuesday as reported by tribunnews.com . Rizieq who was questioned last week at the West Java Police headquarters in Bandung for allegedly insulting the state ideology Pancasila, threatened on Tuesday to report Megawati for insulting Islam. In her speech during the celebration of the party’s anniversary last week, Megawati called on the nation’s “silent majority” to reject groups who threatened the unity of the nation and flouted the dictates of the Pancasila. (Read also: FPI threatens to report ... » Learn More about PDI-P accuses FPI of spreading hatred

A politician from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has described the emblazoning of the national flag with crossed swords and Arabic script, allegedly by Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members, as a form of national betrayal. “The FPI has spoiled the symbol and dignity of the state, the Red-and-White flag. The FPI has gone too far. It’s high time for the police to take legal action,” Tubagus Hasanuddin, a member of the House of Representatives, said in a statement on Wednesday. "There should be no doubt the government must arrest and legally process [FPI leader] Rizieq Shihab,” the former commander of the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) Jakarta garrison said as reported by tribunnews.com . (Read also: We are not afraid of FPI: PDI-P secretary general ) He said members of the TNI and police as well as veterans would be offended upon learning that the conservative Muslim group had defaced the Red-and-White flag during a rally on Monday. “Yes, ... » Learn More about Arrest Rizieq Shihab for defaming Red-and-White flag: PDI-P lawmaker