We have seen jihadis around the world refuse to recognize the authority of the courts that are trying them, and insist that they recognize only Sharia. Imagine the embarrassment of non-Muslim authorities when they finally discover that this is not an “extremist” position in Islam.

“‘I recognise only Syariah law’: Singaporean claims trial after admitting to giving S$450 to Isis,” by Louisa Tang, Today, January 13, 2020 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):

SINGAPORE — The first Singaporean to be charged with terrorism financing began his trial in a district court on Monday (Jan 13) by admitting to giving S$450 to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), but claimed trial for his actions because he did not recognise Singapore law.

Imran Kassim, a 36-year-old former managing director of logistics firm Novo Logistics, faces one charge under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act.

He is accused of remitting the money on Oct 31, 2014 through Western Union to a man in Turkey, known as Mohamad Alsaied Almidan, to publish Isis propaganda.

Imran’s trial in open court is the first of its kind here. Another Singaporean was jailed last year, after a closed-door hearing, for giving more than S$1,000 to a Jamaican preacher who had been imprisoned for stirring racial hatred.

Imran will return to court on Tuesday for District Judge Seah Chi-Ling’s verdict. If convicted of the offence of providing property and services for terrorist purposes, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to S$500,000, or both.

PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO ISIS CALIPH

Imran has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since August 2017. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) earlier said that he was radicalised by violent Isis propaganda, and had tried to travel to Syria at least twice in 2014 and 2015 to join the group.

The MHA also said that he pledged allegiance to the Isis’ self-declared caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in July 2014.

According to the ministry, he further admitted that he was prepared to attack Singaporean soldiers deployed in the global coalition against Isis, or hold them as hostages to “demand ransom” from the Singapore Government to help boost the group’s finances.

Imran also sought to galvanise support for the Isis online, such as by sharing propaganda via various social media accounts that he held under different personas. His radical and pro-militant views caught the attention of people close to him, who then reported him to the authorities, said the MHA.

‘I RECOGNISE ONLY SYARIAH LAW’

On Monday, Imran appeared in the courtroom handcuffed and dressed in a purple jumpsuit, with a skullcap pulled over his eyes. The cap was removed by guards once he was in the dock.

Read also: 2 S’poreans arrested for engaging in terror-related activities

He told District Judge Seah that he would claim trial instead of pleading guilty, saying: “I don’t recognise Singapore laws, only Syariah (Islamic) law… The only thing I will do is I admit I did the transfer and did it to benefit the Islamic State.”…