Philippine law enforcement agents have arrested a woman who allegedly tried to spread radical ideas and recruit foreigners as pro-Islamic State rebels.
Reuters reported that Karen Aizha Hamidon, an Islamic State operative of Indian origin and the widow of a former leader of an extremist group in Mindanao, was arrested by special agents at her home in a Manila suburb a week ago and has been charged with inciting to rebellion, Vitaliano Aguirre told a news conference.
Hamidon is accused of using social media and messaging apps to call on foreigners to join the siege by an alliance of Islamic State.
This is a welcome development in the fight against terrorism.Vitaliano Aguirre, Justice Minister, Philippines
Her arrest comes as big boost for the Indian intelligence agencies in their probe against Islamic state operatives in the country.
Hamidon came under the radar in 2016 when Indian agencies found out that she was using social media platforms and messaging apps to recruit foreign fighters from India and other countries like Singapore and Philippines.
Agents found she had made 296 posts in chat-rooms on Telegram and WhatsApp calling on Muslims in the Philippines, India and Singapore to come to Marawi to establish a province of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.Vitaliano Aguirre
Two Indian ISIS workers – an Indian Oil Corporation manager Mohammad Sirajuddin (arrested in Jaipur), and a 23- year-old Tamil Nadu engineer Mohammad Naseer, who was deported from Sudan – claimed they were influenced by Hamidon, as reported by The Times of India.
NIA had sent a judicial request last year to Philippines looking for details and evidence on Hamidon. The NIA may request the Indian agencies to question her, either by video conferencing or by allowing a team to travel to Manila, The Times of India reported.
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