What Does ISIS Spell for Regional Security?

The Straits Times

11 October 2014

For some time, the Syrian conflict has barely registered here. But in the past few months, a terror group calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has seized considerable territory in those two countries, roped in some 30,000 fighters from across the globe, and sparked security concerns close to home. Insight examines the impact ISIS has had in Singapore and the region, and how the authorities and others are responding to the threat.

He was a manager in a local supermarket. She was a widow who went on to marry a Malaysian.

Both are Singaporeans still believed to be in Syria – sobering reminders of how a brutal three-year conflict 8,000km away hits close to home.

…Associate research fellow Navhat Nuraniyah from the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) tells Insight that such Islamist extremism has deep historical roots in South-east Asia.

“ISIS gained traction in the region precisely because previous extremist movements like JI have spread radical Islamist ideology in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore,” she said.

…Associate research fellow Nur Aziemah Azman from the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the RSIS says the Internet and social media have helped terrorists spread their propaganda more easily.

…RSIS associate research fellow Mustazah Bahari has compiled a list of Muslim asatizah or religious scholars, leaders and countries against ISIS, alongside his colleague, Mr Muhammad Haniff Hassan. The compilation, he said, was created to address misunderstandings about whether ISIS is truly motivated by Islamic beliefs and if it’s self-made Islamic state is in any way legitimate.

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