Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
International

Singapore Deports Indian Imam For Comments Against Jews, Christians

IANS, 03 Apr, 2017 12:55 PM
    An Indian Imam living in Singapore will be repatriated for his remarks against Jews and Christians.
     
    Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel, 47, had pleaded guilty to a charge of promoting enmity between different religious groups and was fined Sg $4,000 ($2,860). The Singapore government said there was no room for such remarks in a multi-religious society and he should be sent home.
     
    "Nalla has paid the fine. He will be repatriated," Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.
     
    The imam, an Islamic religious teacher, had recited a supplication in Arabic during a prayer session at a mosque in January, which translated as "Grant us help against the Jews and Christians," court documents showed. A video of his remarks -- uploaded on Facebook in February by another person - triggered legal action.
     
    The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore said in a statement that Mr Nalla's supplication "is not from the Quran and does not constitute part of the divine message".
     
    "Recent events abroad have highlighted how the build-up of anger and resentment among different religious groups can lead to social friction and violence," the interior ministry of Singapore said. "The government has the responsibility to act quickly and firmly to repudiate divisive speech, even if the course of action is sometimes difficult."
     
     
    Singapore is a mainly an ethnic Chinese society, with large Malay Muslim and Indian populations.
     
    District Judge Jasvender Kaur said Singapore "cannot allow any person or group to sow discord or promote enmity among the different religious or racial groups when we have worked so hard as a society to achieve religious and racial harmony".
     
    The judge said she imposed only a fine considering the "strong sense of remorse" shown by Mr Nalla, who has apologised to different religious leaders and even visited a Jewish rabbi to offer his personal regrets.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Muslim Swimmers Allowed To Race Wearing 'Burkinis' In England

    Muslim Swimmers Allowed To Race Wearing 'Burkinis' In England
    Muslim women swimmers have won the right to race in loose-fitting full body outfits or 'burkinis' while taking part in amateur swimming competitions in England.

    Muslim Swimmers Allowed To Race Wearing 'Burkinis' In England

    Donald Trump Signs Revised Immigration Executive Order

    US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a revised version of his executive order on immigration, that places a 90-day ban on people from six predominantly Muslim nations.

    Donald Trump Signs Revised Immigration Executive Order

    Two Indian Men Racially Abused, Attacked In New Zealand, Told To Go Back To Their Own Country

    Two Indian Men Racially Abused, Attacked In New Zealand, Told To Go Back To Their Own Country
    Narindervir Singh streamed the video live on Facebook and while he informed the driver that he's uploading the video live, the situation escalated and Singh was abused, sworn at and told to go back to his own country.

    Two Indian Men Racially Abused, Attacked In New Zealand, Told To Go Back To Their Own Country

    Sikh Man Shot At In US, Attacker Allegedly Shouted 'Go Back To Your Country'

    Sikh Man Shot At In US, Attacker Allegedly Shouted 'Go Back To Your Country'
    The victim, who was not identified by name by officials or the media, survived the attack that took place on Friday night unlike the two others, Harnish Patel of Lancaster, South Carolina, was killed on Thursday, and Srinivas Kuchibhotla murdered on February 22 in Olathe, Kansas. 

    Sikh Man Shot At In US, Attacker Allegedly Shouted 'Go Back To Your Country'

    Indian-Origin Businessman Harnish Patel Shot Dead Outside His Lancaster Home In South Carolina

    Indian-Origin Businessman Harnish Patel Shot Dead Outside His Lancaster Home In South Carolina
    Harnish Patel, 43, had closed his shop at 11.24 p.m. and barely 10 minutes later was shot dead outside his house, according to media reports.

    Indian-Origin Businessman Harnish Patel Shot Dead Outside His Lancaster Home In South Carolina

    Donald Trump's Wire-Tapping Claims Simply False: Obama Spokesman

    Donald Trump's Wire-Tapping Claims Simply False: Obama Spokesman
    US President Donald Trump's accusation that his predecessor Barack Obama had his "wires tapped" in Trump Tower before Election Day is "simply false", Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis said on Saturday.

    Donald Trump's Wire-Tapping Claims Simply False: Obama Spokesman