SINGAPORE, April 3 — The imam who made offensive remarks against Jews and Christians during a Friday sermon at a mosque here will be repatriated to India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said today as it underscored the Republic’s zero-tolerance for divisive speech and behaviour among religious leaders.

The ministry’s statement came after Imam Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel Abdul Malik, 46, an Indian national, was charged with committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious groups. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined S$4,000 (RM12,670).

Nalla had been the chief Imam at the Jamae Chulia Mosque for the past seven years. During a Friday prayer on January 6 this year, he uttered the phrase: “Grant us help against the Jews and the Christians.”

MHA said action was taken against Nalla with “some regret” as he had attended to the needs of his congregation, reached out to other faiths, and had not been deliberately malicious.

“Nevertheless, what he did was wrong. And he has admitted it,” the ministry added. “Given the nature of the breach, action had to be taken.”

In a Facebook post on Friday evening, Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said the incident has been a “trying one” for the Muslim community and noted that “words that cause mistrust and apprehension among the various communities have no place in Singapore” and uttered insensitively, can undermine the Republic’s social cohesion.

“Similarly, a case such as this should always be directed to the relevant authorities as and when they arise. It would be irresponsible and reckless to sensationalise such issues on social media,” he added.

Nalla has taken responsibility for his comments, which he said were added on his own and not from the Quran. He has also apologised to religious leaders in Singapore, and visited the Maghain Aboth Synagogue yesterday to convey his apologies to Rabbi Mordechai Abergel of the Jewish community.

The ministry stressed that it would hold accountable and take action against any religious leader who commits a similar offence.

It added: “Recent events abroad have highlighted how the build-up of anger and resentment among different religious groups can lead to social friction and violence.

“The Government has the responsibility to act quickly and firmly to repudiate divisive speech, even if the course of action is sometimes difficult.”

In a separate statement, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said Nalla’s remarks “have no place in today’s Singapore where all communities live in peace and harmony”.

MUIS added: “Our laws protect all citizens, and ensure that all religious communities can live out their faith in peace. Hence, our laws must be applied fairly and impartially, regardless of race or religion.”

Meanwhile, two individuals investigated by the police in connection with the imam’s case have been issued stern warnings for their conduct, said MHA.

Terence Kenneth John Nunis, 40, made public the imam’s comments via an online video when he should have reported it to the police, the ministry noted in its statement. The public prosecutor assessed that he had broken the law, and could have been prosecuted under Section 298A(b) of the Penal Code for committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious groups.

However, as Nunis was not the “primary offender”, he was issued with a stern warning in lieu of prosecution. “(Nunis) has apologised for his conduct and undertaken not to repeat it,” said MHA.

In his apology letter, Nunis wrote: “I unreservedly apologise to all Singaporeans for my conduct. I deeply regret my actions, and undertake not to repeat my conduct. I also accept that I made the situation worse by making some intemperate remarks.”

National University of Singapore academic Syed Muhammad Khairudin Aljunied, 40, was similarly issued a stern warning, in lieu of prosecution, for publishing two Facebook posts in early March titled “The Imam and the Silly Convert” and “The Imam and the Wised Up Convert Reloaded”.

MHA said: “The effect of his posts was to support the supplication that Nalla had used. Khairudin’s comments were contrary to the law.”

Khairudin wrote in his apology letter: “I wish to acknowledge that I had made the posts without a full understanding of the facts on the ground... I now wish to apologise unreservedly to Singaporeans and NUS, since my posts were supportive of what the Imam had said. I undertake not to repeat my conduct.”

Commenting on the warnings issued against the two men, MUIS urged the Malay-Muslim community to refer such matters to the authorities in future instead of posting them on social media.

“As we can see from this episode, the sensationalist and irresponsible use of social media will sow discord within and across communities,” MUIS added. “The warnings issued to the two individuals are a strong reminder on what Muis has always stressed: that the use of social media must be tempered with wisdom and adab (ethics and civility).” — TODAY