SINGAPORE - Four Singaporeans have been arrested under the city-state's tough Internal Security Act (ISA) for taking part or intending to join armed groups in the Middle East, the interior ministry said Wednesday.
Two Singaporean men -- Mohammad Razif Yahya, 27, and Amiruddin Sawir, 53 -- were arrested in August 2015 and held under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.
Two men -- Mohammad Razif Yahya, 27, and Amiruddin Sawir, 53 -- were arrested in August 2015 and held under the ISA, which allows for detention without trial, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.
Both men had gone to Yemen at different times for religious studies but they also took part in the country's armed sectarian conflict.
MHA said the men volunteered for armed sentry duties at the religious institution they were studying at and were involved in gun battles against Yemen's Houthi rebels.
"Razif and Amiruddin were prepared to kill and be killed as 'martyrs' in the sectarian conflict in Yemen," MHA said in a statement.
"By taking up arms in Yemen, they have demonstrated a readiness to use violence to pursue their religious cause. As such, they are assessed to pose a security threat to Singapore."
A third man, Mohamed Mohideen Mohamed Jais was in Yemen from 2009 to early 2011 for religious studies. During his time there, Mohideen performed armed sentry duty but is believed not to have been involved in firefights.
He has been issued a restriction order, which means his movements will be monitored and he will be made to attend compulsory religious counselling sessions.
The fourth person, Wang Yuandongyi, 23, was also put under a restriction order for intending to join the Kurdish militia to fight the Islamic State group in Syria.
In January, he travelled to an unnamed country from where he intended to make his way to Turkey and then Syria but was caught and sent back to Singapore.
MHA said Wang brought along his combat boots and uniform issued by the Singapore Armed Forces during mandatory conscription for able-bodied male citizens.
MHA said even though Wang's action was not ideologically-driven as he had intended to fight against the IS group, he still wanted to engage in an armed conflict overseas.
"The Government takes a stern view against anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence ideologically, or where the violence takes place," MHA said.
"The threat of radicalisation remains a high concern whether online or through some religious leaders," said terrorism analyst Rohan Gunaratna of the S. Rajaratman School of International Studies.
"The exposure in military conflict is in itself a cause for concern and such returnees should thoroughly be assessed and guided for reintegration."