The Ministry of Home Affairs is investigating into the activities of Bangladeshi national Hamza Md Amir, also known as Amir Hamza, following allegations that he illegally preached extremist views to a group of Bangladeshi migrant workers at a dormitory in Singapore on August 9, 2024.
The ministry is also looking into the event’s organiser and other individuals involved.
According to report, Amir Hamza is reported to have delivered a sermon promoting segregationist and extremist ideologies that could undermine Singapore’s communal harmony.
His teachings reportedly included derogatory references to non-Muslims, whom he referred to as “kafir” (infidels), and praise for figures linked to the banned Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, whose members have faced accusations of terrorism.
The extremist preacher gained entry to Singapore and delivered an unauthorized sermon by using a passport that bore a name not found in the country’s security databases, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday, August 21.
“He left Singapore on 10 August 2024. On 12 August 2024, the authorities received police reports that he had preached to a group of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Singapore on 9 August 2024”, MHA added.
WHO IS AMIR HAMZA :
The preacher has a controversial history in Bangladesh, where he has attracted security attention for allegedly promoting violence and religious intolerance, said The Ministry of Home Affairs Singapore in its press release.
“He is also alleged to be an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh”.
In 2021, Amir Hamza was arrested for his ties to terrorism and inciting militancy, with authorities linking his inflammatory rhetoric to a plan to attack the Bangladesh Parliament.
He was released on bail in December 2023 and reportedly used a passport with a different name to enter Singapore, escaping detection by local security agencies at the time.
During his sermon, Amir Hamza accused the prior Bangladeshi government, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, of oppression and claimed that victory would come only when Bangladesh was established as “an Islamic country.”
Notably, neither Amir Hamza nor the event’s organiser secured the necessary approvals for the sermon, violating local regulations.
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs said : “The authorities are investigating into the persons involved in the event, including the organiser, and will take strong action if they are found to have breached our laws, or pose security concern. This includes deportation, prosecution or detention under the Internal Security Act”.
“The Singapore Government takes a very serious view of hate and extremist speech. We will not tolerate anyone, foreign or local, spreading and promoting views that threaten Singapore’s security, or our racial and religious harmony”.
“Foreigners should also not import their politics into Singapore, and carry out activities here in pursuit of such agenda”, MHA added.
“The public is reminded that foreigners who wish to conduct talks in Singapore that are religious, cause-based or political in nature are required to obtain a Miscellaneous Work Pass. In addition, public assemblies in Singapore are regulated under the Public Order Act 2009, and organising or participating in a public assembly without a Police permit constitutes an offence”.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the need for Singapore to balance its security requirements with the travel experience.
“You’ve got to remember, people from all over the world come into Singapore. We have to keep the airport experience friendly. People have to feel welcomed to Singapore,” he stated.
Nonetheless, he acknowledged the challenging responsibility of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in preventing individuals like Amir Hamza from entering Singapore.
Image via Facebook
A redditor also highlighted the case on local sub reddit r/SingaporeRaw.
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