Importance of Vigilance Against Extremist Preaching and Foreign Influences: Case of Amir Hamza's Illegal Sermon in Singapore

The recent incident involving Amir Hamza, a Bangladeshi preacher who delivered an illegal sermon in Singapore, yet again highlights the critical need for continued vigilance in safeguarding our nation’s safety and social harmony.

Amir Hamza, a foreign national with a history of promoting extremist views, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by religious preachers who seek to spread segregationist teachings and political propaganda within our communities. His sermon in Singapore propagated dangerous and divisive views, including promoting religious intolerance, disparaging non-Muslims, and politicizing religious teachings. Such rhetoric has no place in Singapore’s multireligious society.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Amir Hamza had held up alleged Bangladeshi extremists as examples of religious piety, including several leaders of the Islamist party Jamaat e-Islami, which is banned in Bangladesh due to its involvement in alleged terrorist activities. Amir Hamza had also attracted security attention in Bangladesh for his alleged extremist teachings and terror links. The MHA reported that he had promoted religious intolerance, hatred, and violence in his sermons and was an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organization operating in Bangladesh. In 2021, Amir Hamza was arrested in Bangladesh for his purported terror links, terrorism-related activities, and incitement to militancy. Although he was released on bail in December last year while awaiting trial, his speeches have allegedly influenced a Bangladeshi AAI-linked terror suspect who planned to attack the Bangladesh parliament. Amir Hamza reportedly admitted to deliberately misinterpreting religious teachings and spreading extremism through his sermons, according to the MHA.

Necessary actions must be taken against those who facilitated this breach of our laws, including the requirement to apply for permits, and against those who support any speech or activity that can sow discord or cause harm through religious intolerance and extremist ideologies.

While the internet and global connectivity have brought international issues closer to our doorstep, making it natural for communities to be concerned about current affairs overseas, we must remain resolute in protecting everyone in Singapore—locals and foreigners—from harmful influences. We empathize with those concerned about the politics and people in their home countries, and we understand their worries about the suffering and future of their people. However, we must be cautious about the importation of foreign politics that is intertwined with extremist religious ideas into Singapore.

Our laws and national ethos are clear: We do not tolerate anyone threatening our nation’s security or racial or religious harmony. This applies equally to both locals and foreigners living in Singapore.

We must continue to work closely with all communities to prevent extremist ideologies from taking root in Singapore. By upholding the principles of mutual respect and coexistence, we ensure everyone feels safe and secure as part of our multi-religious society.

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