SINGAPORE: Concerns are mounting as two Singaporean teenagers have been radicalised and subsequently dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Among them is a 15-year-old girl, marking her as the first female youth to face such a consequence. Her case underscores a troubling trend of youth extremism that is capturing the attention of authorities.
The 15-Year-Old Girl’s Journey into Radicalisation
The girl first encountered Islamic State (ISIS) propaganda online in June 2023. Within weeks, she was convinced of ISIS’s legitimacy, viewing them as a religious force defending Muslims.
She even pledged allegiance to former ISIS Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi via an online chatbot in July 2023, identifying herself as an ISIS member thereafter.
- She aimed to support ISIS by marrying a fighter.
- She even considered raising her future sons to become fighters.
- Despite her mother’s concerns about her online activity, no further action was taken.
ISD’s findings revealed that the girl also engaged in several romantic online relationships with overseas ISIS supporters, posting propaganda and sharing it with her schoolmates, who did not take her seriously.
The 17-Year-Old’s Far-Right Ideologies
The second case involves a 17-year-old male who was detained earlier this year after planning a mass shooting targeting Muslims at mosques. His radicalisation journey began with exposure to Islamophobic materials and a growing fascination with far-right ideologies, which led him to see figures like Brenton Tarrant as heroes.
- He has been linked to Nick Lee Xing Qiu, another youth previously detained for similar reasons.
- His attack plans included targeting five local mosques.
- He expressed intentions of killing at least 100 Muslims to surpass Tarrant’s casualty numbers.
Both youths displayed alarming tendencies towards violence, which Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam addressed at a recent press conference. He emphasised the importance of community vigilance in identifying these radical tendencies before they escalate.
Government’s Response to Rising Extremism
In light of these incidents, ISD has reinforced its messaging about the importance of familial support in noticing changes in behaviour among youth. Families are encouraged to report any signs of radicalisation to help prevent potential violence.
The 15-year-old girl’s case is indicative of a global trend where young women are increasingly attracted to roles within extremist environments.
Meanwhile, the 17-year-old exemplifies the rising influence of far-right ideologies among Singaporean youths.
As the landscape of radicalisation evolves, the ISD prepares to tackle both sides of the extremist spectrum.