The Singapore government launched a probe this week after Bangladeshi national Amir Hamza, who had previously been arrested by the government for alleged terror links, entered the nation and gave sermons that preached extremist and segregationist teachings to Bangladeshi migrant labourers in the city, according to reports by ChannelNewsAsia and Straits Times.
The Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that the Internal Security Department (ISD) was aware of Amir Hamza and his background.
Amir Hamza delivered a sermon on August 9 at the Lantana Lodge dormitory in Tech Park Crescent, Tuas.
He left Singapore the following day, after police received reports on August 12 that he had preached to a group of Bangladeshi migrant workers.
Hamza used a passport with a different name from the one in their databases to enter Singapore on August 9. His biometrics were also not recorded at the time of entry.
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam explained earlier this week on Wednesday that the passport appeared to be valid but had a different name, which allowed Amir Hamza to slip through due to this passport issue.
Shangmugan said that Amir Hamza’s sermon at the dormitory labelled non-Muslims as kafirs (infidels) and praised extremists as models of religious piety.
He also pointed out that the sermon was politicised, with Hamza criticising the previous government led by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling them “oppressors” and accusing them of sentencing individuals to death for dissent.
“Amir Hamza’s sermon propagated extremist and segregationist teachings that were dangerous, and detrimental to Singapore’s communal harmony,” the Singaporean home ministry said in a statement.
The Singaporean home minister highlighted that Amir Hamza gave sermons that “run down secular values, promote religious intolerance, and disparage non-Muslims”.
Amir Hamza is reportedly linked to Ansar al-Islam, a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation in Bangladesh.
In 2021, he was arrested by Bangladeshi authorities for terrorism-related activities and for inciting violence through his sermons.
That year, three suspects who were planning an attack on Bangladesh’s Parliament revealed that they were inspired by Hamza’s speeches.
Singaporean authorities said that stern action will be taken against Hamza and others involved in the event if they pose a security concern or have breached Singapore’s laws.
The authorities said Hamza and others could face deportation, prosecution or detention under the nation’s Internal Security Act.
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