Apr 19, 2010

Razak 'rediscovers' Islam

By Reme Ahmad ASSISTANT FOREIGN EDITOR

Abdul Razak Baginda (above) spoke about jihad, the current clamour for an Islamic state by some Muslims around the world, and the various responses from state authorities. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

ABDUL Razak Baginda, the defence analyst who was acquitted in the murder case of a Mongolian beauty more than a year ago, said he has rediscovered Islam after his harrowing experience.

Now based at Oxford University, he has been doing research on the religion and has given lectures in halls and mosques in Britain about political Islam and the radicalisation of young Muslims.

'Praise God, I went through it (the murder case) because I think my two-year experience in custody helped me to look at things differently,' said Mr Abdul Razak, 50, who now has a paunch and is sporting a beardh.

'I think that is instrumental. Otherwise I would not go to this path. I am trying to be a better Muslim,' he told reporters after delivering a talk in Singapore on Monday.

The talk by Mr Abdul Razak, a senior associate member at St Anthony's College in Oxford, was hosted by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

The one-hour talk, attended by about 40 people, was entitled 'Radical Islam and the New Caliphate.' He spoke about jihad, the current clamour for an Islamic state by some Muslims around the world, and the various responses from state authorities.