Malaysia cracks down on IS network: 2 Bangladeshis charged with terrorism, 36 were held last month

Two Bangladeshi men have been charged in a Malaysian court with terrorism-related offences linked to the Islamic State (IS) militant group..

According to Malaysian news portal Malay Mail, 31-year-old Md Mamun Ali is accused of supporting IS by operating a Facebook account under the name “Sahifulla Islam” between July 28, 2023, and April 30, 2024.

He has been charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of Malaysia’s Penal Code, which provides for life imprisonment or a jail term of up to 30 years, along with a possible fine, added the report.

In a separate case, 27-year-old Refat Bishat was charged under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the same code for possessing an image of the IS flag on his mobile phone.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison or a fine, reported Malay Mail

The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 12 to allow time for the appointment of an interpreter for the accused.

Last month, Malaysian police arrested 36 Bangladeshi nationals in a sweeping crackdown on a network accused of spreading Islamic State (IS) ideology and soliciting funds from migrant workers.

Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said the arrests were made during coordinated operations carried out since April. All the suspects had entered Malaysia legally for employment.

The group allegedly used social media and encrypted messaging platforms to disseminate extremist content and radicalise Bangladeshi workers employed in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and services.

With inputs from agencies