Children in ISIS Nusantara media outreach

The inclusion of children has raised ISIS Nusantara’s media outreach to new heights. From military training videos to educational mobile applications designed to teach kids jihadist ideology, the indoctrination of young minds with radical tendencies marks a troubling shift in how children have been co-opted into ISIS propaganda strategy

Disinformation : the spreading of Islamophobia

COVID-19-related disinformation campaigns designed to stoke Islamophobic sentiment are fuelling an uptick in hate attacks targeting Muslims in some countries. The unprecedented conditions created by the ongoing pandemic offer fresh opportunities for extremists to exploit, and require timely interventions.Published versio

From Paris to Jakarta: How Terror Attacks Drive Mobile Engagement

Thanks to mobile communication, the 14 January Jakarta attacks were documented by eye-witnesses through their mobile phone cameras and distributed over quick-sharing applications. This also brought the experience to a whole new level, with the spectre of terrorism making its way into the personal spaces of those on mobile connectivity

Youth and Women Radicalisation in Singapore: Case of Syaikhah Izzah

Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari is believed to be the first Singaporean woman to be detained for radicalisation. It marks a troubling shift in how young people including females have been co-opted in extremist propaganda strategy. Online radicalisation will continue to be the principal purveyor of extremism in highly digitized societies with strong anti-terrorism laws like Singapore. Family-centered counter-radicalisation initiatives are needed to address youth vulnerability in radicalisation that can lead to terrorism

Abdullah Qardash : IS Successor to Al-Baghdadi?

Abdullah Qardash, a former officer in Saddam Hussein’s army who rose through Islamic State’s ranks, was reported recently to be the successor to current leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This is perhaps the first time a successor to the world’s most reclusive extremist leader has been mentioned. reflecting IS’ struggle to re-assert itself as a global movement

The Electronic Digitisation of ISIS: Building a Multi-media Legacy

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)’s ubiquitous cross-channel connectivity in the social media sphere enables its continuous engagement with its transnational audience, sustaining its online relevance, strong reputation and competitiveness in an increasingly digitised world

2020 Jolo suicide attack : evolving tactics

The 24 August 2020 suicide bombing in Jolo which involved female attackers has brought attention to the emergence of the pro-Islamic State (IS) Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group and its tactic of engaging women for this role.Published versio

The Inevitable Jihad in Myanmar

Violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has driven over 125,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing towards neighbouring Bangladesh following the destruction of an entire Muslim village allegedly by Myanmar security forces. The crisis has resulted in growing regional resentment against Myanmar, with hardline Islamist groups promising to wage ‘jihad’ in Myanmar

Cryptocurrencies: Potential For Terror Financing

Given their transaction anonymity and user-friendliness, cryptocurrencies appeal to extremist groups as they offer a viable alternative to the mainstream financial system and fiat money which are perceived as ‘kafir’ (infidel) currencies. The threat of cyber-driven terrorist financing is expected to grow

Singapore’s Threat Outlook 2017: The Terrorist Challenge Ahead

The 2016 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report by the Institute for Economics and Peace has ranked Singapore as one of the safest countries in the world, maintaining its position of last year. While this attests to the efficacy of Singapore’s counter-terrorism efforts, the unceasing threat of terrorism calls for steadfast vigilance, preparedness and resilience at all levels of society