A BANGLADESHI man was today sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the High Court in Malaysia after admitting to supporting the Islamic State (IS) group through the social media platform Facebook.
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid handed down the sentence to 29-year-old restaurant worker Mohammad Didarul Alam, ordering that the term commence from his arrest on July 21.
The court also directed that Alam be deported to Bangladesh upon completion of his prison term.
“The accused is also ordered to be deported to his home country upon completing his prison sentence,” Azhar said during proceedings.
Alam faced charges for providing material support to IS via a Facebook account under the name Al Mubin Islam at the Special Branch’s Counter-Terrorism Division at Bukit Aman on May 27, 2024.
The charge, framed under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of 40 years’ imprisonment or a fine, and allows for the forfeiture of property used in committing the offence.
Investigations revealed that Alam had used his Facebook account to promote the terrorist organisation by posting and sharing propaganda materials, including videos, statements, and images.
An analysis report prepared by a Bengali translator confirmed the dissemination of IS-related content via his account.
Deputy public prosecutor Aftal Mariz Mahamed urged the court to impose a substantial sentence to act as a deterrent for the accused and other foreign nationals involved in terrorist activities.
“The accused has no prior criminal record, but this is a serious offence that poses a threat to national security,” he stated.
Alam, who was unrepresented in court, pleaded for leniency, explaining that he had come to Malaysia to support his family and parents in Bangladesh.
“I came to Malaysia to work, and I apologise for my mistake,” he said in Bengali, as translated by an interpreter.
The case highlights Malaysia’s continuing efforts to combat online terrorism and the use of social media as a tool for spreading extremist ideologies. - December 12, 2025
