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Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched an investigation into Amir Hamza, a Bangladeshi preacher with suspected terror connections, after he delivered an unauthorized sermon at a migrant workers’ dormitory in Tuas. The sermon, which took place on August 9, has raised serious security concerns due to its extremist and segregationist content.
According to the MHA, Hamza entered Singapore using a passport with a different name from the one in their databases, which allowed him to bypass initial security checks. He was previously arrested by Bangladeshi authorities in 2021 for alleged ties to terrorism and inciting violence through his teachings. The Internal Security Department (ISD) was aware of Hamza’s background but did not have his biometrics at the time of entry.
Hamza’s sermon at Lantana Lodge, a dormitory for migrant workers, reportedly included inflammatory remarks against non-Muslims and called the former Bangladeshi government “oppressors.” His rhetoric, which promoted extremist views and held up terrorists as pious figures, has been deemed harmful to Singapore’s communal harmony.
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam explained that while the passport used appeared valid, it bore a different name, leading to Hamza slipping through security measures. He stressed that balancing security with visitor experience at Changi Airport is challenging, but authorities are reviewing their processes to prevent similar incidents.
Hamza departed Singapore the day after his sermon, and reports of his illegal activities surfaced on August 12 through social media. The MHA has indicated that potential actions against Hamza and those involved could include deportation, prosecution, or detention under the Internal Security Act.
Shanmugam emphasized that Singapore takes a stringent stance on hate and extremist speech and will not tolerate actions that threaten national security or racial and religious harmony. The investigation is ongoing, with a focus on ensuring such incidents do not recur and maintaining vigilance within the foreign worker community.