Singapore expels Indian imam for divisive remarks

Singapore, April 3 

Singapore today ordered the expulsion of an Indian imam after he was handed a nearly $3,000 fine by a court here for making divisive remarks against Christians and Jews during his Friday sermon at a mosque.

Nalla Mohammad Abdul Jameel pleaded guilty to a charge of promoting enmity between various groups on grounds of religion or race at the State Courts. He was handed a fine of Singaporean dollars 4,000, the Channel News Asia reported.

In February, a video was circulated online of the imam reportedly reciting a prayer in Arabic that said "God help us against Jews and Christians" among other things.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in a separate statement, said Nalla had paid the fine and would be repatriated. “Any religious leader from any religion who makes such statements will be held accountable for their actions,” the ministry said.

“Under Singapore law, we cannot, regardless of his religion, allow anyone to preach or act divisively and justify that by reference to a religious text,” it said.

The imam had on Friday apologised in front of Christian, Sikh, Taoist, Buddhist and Hindu representatives, as well as members of the Federation of Indian Muslims, saying that he was “filled with great remorse” for the inconvenience, tension and trauma caused by his remarks. On behalf of the Jewish community in Singapore, Rabbi Mordechai accepted the imam’s apology and emphasised the need to be  conscious of Singapore's harmonious co-existence. — PTI