Religious and political leaders in Singapore have denounced as “barbaric” the series of terror attacks in this holy month of Ramadan, saying they show how terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have completely perverted the teachings of Islam.

The fact that most of the attacks were in Muslim-majority nations and at holy Islamic sites has also laid bare the terrorists’ lies that they commit such atrocities in the name of Islam, they added.

“The attacks on Muslim-majority cities and countries, claiming lives of Muslims… confirm that their heinous acts are against Islam and do not represent Muslims all over the world,” said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim.

“I strongly condemn such barbaric acts,” added Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Communications and Information.

… Terror experts such as Dr Rohan Gunaratna said ISIS has amplified its guerilla operations as coalition forces have shrunk its territory.

“The last two years, they were focused on building their so-called caliphate, but now they can’t do it because they’re being attacked,” said Dr Gunaratna. “So they transform their capabilities into attacking their enemies, and mounting attacks in peripheral countries.”