Woman suspected of recruiting IS fighters in India, Singapore arrested in Philippines: Report

Philippines today arrested a woman suspected of recruiting foreigners through social media and messaging apps, reports said.

The woman believed to be an IS recruiter was arrested in the southern city of Taguig which is dominated by pro-Islamic rebels, Reuters reported.

"Karen Aizha Hamidon, the widow of a former leader of a small 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," Philippine's justice minister told Singapore's local newspaper The Straits Times. 

"Agents found she had made 296 posts in chatrooms 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", The Straits Times quoted the minister as saying.

Hamidon is accused of using social media and messaging apps to call on foreigners to join the siege by an alliance of Islamic State loyalists in Marawi city.

Justice minister Aguirre said Hamidon was formerly the wife of Singaporean security guard detained in 2015 for planning to join ISIS and using social media to incite violence.

Hamidon later married a Filipino,  Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, who led an IS-linked organization but was killed in January, justice minister added.

Hamidon was also allegedly close to an Australian preacher accused of recruiting IS fighters.

Expanding on Hamidon's arrest, Aguirre said: "It is very clear that her actions are in a conspiracy, or in sync, with actions of the rebels." 

"While her companions are fighting in Marawi, her part is to further recruit fighters to assist in the Marawi siege by the ISIS and Maute groups," the minister added.  

Source: http://www.wionews.com/world/woman-suspected-of-recruiting-is-fighters-in-india-singapore-arrested-in-philippines-22601