15-Year-Old Who Wanted To Marry ISIS Fighter Is First Female Teen Dealt With Under ISA

She Considered Travelling To Syria To Fight, Raise Sons To Take Up Arms For Terror Group

- Andrew Wong and Christine Tan

A 15-year-old Singaporean student who wanted to marry an ISIS fighter in Syria started at least eight online relationships with supporters of the terrorist group.

She considered saving money to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, start a pro-ISIS family and raise sons to become fighters for the cause.

In February, the Internal Security Department (ISD) issued a restriction order (RO) against the self-radicalised girl.

She cannot travel out of Singapore or access social media without approval.

ISD said on April 2 that the girl is the first female teen to be dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

ISD noted that her case mirrors a global trend of female teenagers who aspire to travel to Syria to fight, or to support the ISIS cause by becoming jihadi brides, or wives of ISIS militants.

ISD said: "The threat posed by ISIS has not abated, sustained through its online propaganda efforts, virtual network of supporters and global affiliates."

After seeing ISIS propaganda online in June 2023, the girl became convinced it was a legitimate religious army, and supported its use of violence to cleanse the world of non-Muslims and Shiite Muslims.

One month later, she pledged allegiance, via a chatbot, to ISIS' former caliph - a requirement before one could marry an ISIS fighter.

From then on, she saw herself as a member of the terror group.

The girl frequently reposted ISIS propaganda on her social media accounts to attract other supporters into pursuing a romantic relationship with her.

Between July 2023 and December 2024, she was in at least eight short-term romantic online relationships with overseas-based supporters, including an alleged ISIS fighter in Syria.

On three occasions between September 2023 and April 2024, she searched for flights from Singapore to Syria.