06 June, 2020

Quora Answer: Is It Legal to Join ISIS?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Is it legal to join ISIS?

ISIS is classified as a terrorist organisation.  That means, in the vast majority of countries, simply claiming membership of it is illegal, let alone actually joining them.  In Singapore, joining ISIS is sedition, and sedition carries the death penalty.  Actually being a combatant might be construed as waging war against the state, which is another capital offence according to the Constitution.

Being an ISIS sympathiser, or plotting a terrorist attack, would likely get you detained under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial up to a period of two years.  This can be extended indefinitely.  I surmise that Singapore uses the ISA, and not proceed with the Sedition Act because the government does not want the spectacle of a trial, which would be a recruiting tool.  We do not need to make these people martyrs for a cause.






No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to share our thoughts. Once approved, your comments will be poster.