When Housework Turns Dark: Singapore’s Downtown Domestic Drama
Meet the Three Unlikely Terrorists
- Anindia Afiyantari – 33, wants to be a suicide bomber – her dream is so far‑out that even the kitchen knives feel nervous.
- Retno Hernayani – 36, yearns to live with the ISIS fighters in Syria, and believes that Muslims must go wherever the “enemies of Islam” appear – from Palestine to Kashmir.
- Turmini – 31, thinking that every donation to overseas terror groups earns her a spot “in paradise” (and whoever knows the difference between charity and bad money).
Why Singapore Met the Internal Security Act
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed each of them a detention order under the Internal Security Act. These are the first foreign domestic workers to face this move – a stern reminder that you’re not safe just because you’re sweeping floors.
Radicalisation in the Digital Age
Last year, the trio stumbled onto online videos of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The images were so graphic – think bomb attacks, beheadings – and the “recycled propaganda” about past victories that it felt too true to be fiction. They joined hot‑wired pro‑ISIS chat rooms, posted their own propaganda, and even signed up with extremist priests like Aman Abdurrahman and Usman Haidar.
Connections Gone Awry
- Anindia met Retno at a social gathering in Singapore; Turmini connected through the same social media channels.
- Their little “buddy” list turned out to be a web of foreign online “boyfriends” who pushed their radical ideas even higher.
- All three tried to find ways to fund overseas terrorism – you could say their bank accounts are as tangled as the plots they wanted to be part of.
Singapore’s Record on Radical Domestic Workers
Since 2015, 19 foreign domestic workers were identified as radicalised. Eight were repatriated. Now only the trio – the ones still under investigation – are left to answer the questions: “Did they plan to attack? No. Are they still a threat? Absolutely.”
The Singapore Government’s Take‑away
- No signs of violence in Singapore, but the risk of acting abroad? “Not something we want near Singapore.”
- The MHA states that the appeal of ISIS exists even when territories shrink – it’s a hard‑to‑kill ideology.
- “Support for terrorism is a serious offence – any Singaporean or foreigner, no matter the size of the donation.”
Heads Up for Your Social Circles
Ping any friend, colleague, or family member if you spot radical chatter. The MHA urges the public to be vigilant like a mosquito net – the threat is always lurking, and you’d rather keep the net up than down.
“This article first appeared in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.”
