One of the went onto the Internet, you see, and “this has led him to misunderstand the real meaning of jihad” and try to support the Islamic State. Yet another misunderstander of Islam aiding that non-Islamic Islamic caliphate! Where in Malaysia are the mosques and Islamic schools running programs to teach young Muslims to reject this understanding of Islam that continues to ensnare Muslims and cause them to misunderstand Islam? Why, nowhere.
“Architect, technician jailed for trying to support IS,” Bernama, September 9, 2015:
KUALA LUMPUR: An architect and a technician were jailed two years each by the High Court here today for attempting to support the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Judge Kamardin Hashim imposed the sentence on architect Mohd Syafrien Rasid, 27, and technician Mohamad Yusoffe Ishak, 27, and ordered them to serve the sentence from the date of arrest on September 25 last year.
Before imposing the sentence, Judge Kamardin said the court took into account public interest and mitigation by the defence that both the accused were young offenders and did not have previous criminal records.
“The court also took into account the argument by the prosecution and in this case both the accused tried to support the IS. As such, the court imposed a sentence which is reasonable and equivalent to the offence committed,” he said.
Mohd Syafrien and Mohamad Yusoffe pleaded guilty to taking a flight from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Istanbul, Turkey in an attempt to support the IS by entering Syria through Istanbul.
They were charged with committing the offence at the Immigration Counter at the KLIA Departure Lounge, Sepang, at 8.55am in September last year, under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code which carries a life sentence or maximum jail term of 30 years or fine.
According to the facts of the case, Mohd Syafrien and Mohamad Yusoffe were interested in “jihad” after watching violent videos committed in Syria on Facebook and YouTube.
Mohamad Yusoffe, who went under the name Soffie Panji Hitam on his Facebook account had discussed plans for a “jihad”” in Syria while Mohd Syafrien also used Facebook to keep up with developments in that country.
It was through Facebook that both accused met several people who had the same interests gathering information on the war in Syria which were then shared on the WhatsApp application.
They also joined a communications network in WhatsApp which was named “Jihad Fisabilillah” where they collected information on the IS group in Syria.
The two also joined a WhatsApp group called “Melancong” which discussed plans to support the IS in Syria.
These discussions included their willingness to commit “syahid”, to die for the IS struggle.
In mitigation, counsel Nor Rabiatul Bahari, who represented Mohd Syafrien, said her client regretted his actions and had made a mistake in supporting the militant group in Syria.
“My client requests that the court give him a second chance to improve himself and return to the right path,” the lawyer said.
Counsel Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, who represented Mohamad Yusoffe said his client did not have a background in religious education and only knew of the meaning of “jihad” based on information obtained from social media and the Internet.
“This has led him to misunderstand the real meaning of jihad,” he said, adding that his client was fortunate to get the chance to learn about religion and attend religious talks while remanded at the Sungai Buloh prison.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin requested a deterrent sentence as the offence was serious and should also serve to create awareness among the public who are confused about the true meaning of jihad.