Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 31-10-2017
The Singapore government says it has banned international Zimbabwean Islamic scholar Mufti Ismail Menk and Malaysia’s Haslin bin Baharim from entering the country because their views bred intolerance and were a risk to its social harmony.
Reuters reports the decision to block Mufti Menk and Baharim is the latest move by the Singaporean authorities to put a curb on individuals from spreading divisive views.
In a statement, Singapore’s home affairs ministry says Mufti Menk has apparently preached “Muslims are not allowed to greet people of other faiths on their religious festivals”, while it accused Baharim of holding views that promote discord between Muslims and non-Muslims, whom he described as ‘deviant.’
“(Their views) are unacceptable in the context of Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.”
It’s reported that Mufti Menk and Baharim planned to conduct religious sessions on a ship departing from Singapore next month after their applications for short-term work passes to preach in Singapore were turned down by the government.
“They will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore.”
Last month, authorities rejected applications for two foreign Christian preachers to speak in Singapore as they had made “denigrating and inflammatory comments of other religions.”
0 Comments