SINGAPORE: Religious scholars have said that there is no reason to turn to violence if one feels a sense of injustice at seeing events unfolding in other countries, for example in Syria and Iraq. They made this point in response to the announcement from Singapore authorities on Wednesday (May 27) that a self-radicalised teenager was detained. Another was arrested for further investigations.

Muhammed Zahid Mohd Zin, 31, is part of the new generation of Islamic religious teachers in Singapore. He is quite familiar with the sentiments of young Muslim Singaporeans who are quite taken by what they read and see online.

… Dr Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Terrorism Violence and Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said: “This problem has to do with IS propaganda that is radicalising youths. It is happening worldwide. There are more than 90 countries from which people have travelled to join IS and it is a global problem that requires a global, regional and national, as well as a local, solution.”