Two foreign preachers said to teach “divisive doctrines” have been prohibited from entering the country by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) — just days after being bounced from an “Islamic Cruise” scheduled to depart from and return to Singapore next month.
Zimbabwean Muslim cleric Mufti Menk and Malaysian Ustaz Haslin Baharim previously had their Miscellaneous Work Pass applications to preach in Singapore rejected on grounds that they taught “exclusivist practices” that could damage social harmony.
Islamic Cruise — a Malaysia-based tour agency that organizes religious cruises (yes, there is such a thing) — had included both preachers on their program for the Nov. 25-29 cruise.
Though the banned preachers’ teachings would have been conducted on the open seas, MHA is not even letting them enter the country.
“They will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore,” MHA asserted in a statement after consulting with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), Singapore Tourism Board, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
Presumably, the cruise will go on as scheduled, but without the two prohibited preachers.
“The Government has a responsibility to safeguard social cohesion and religious harmony in Singapore. Singaporeans too, need to play their part, to unequivocally reject and guard against divisive doctrines and preachers who propagate such doctrines, regardless of the faith they represent.”
Here’s what the ministry wrote about the two popular yet controversial preachers:
“Ismail Menk has been known to preach segregationist and divisive teachings. For example, he preached that it is the biggest sin and crime for a Muslim to wish a non-Muslim Merry Christmas or Happy Deepavali, in short, that Muslims are not allowed to wish others happiness during the latter’s religious festivals.
“Haslin bin Baharim has expressed views that promote disharmony between Muslims and non-Muslims, whom he describes as ‘deviant’.”
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