A court in Singapore has acquitted three women who organized a walk to the presidential office to show support for the Palestinian cause.
The women were prosecuted for organizing an illegal procession. However, a judge ruled that their actions did not constitute a violation of the law.
One of the women expressed that the unexpected acquittal would give a new sense of energy and hope to activists in Singapore.
Public demonstrations are rare in Singapore due to strict regulations that require a police permit for any gatherings promoting a cause. The authorities have effectively banned public assemblies related to the Israel-Gaza war.
Any permit applications for public assemblies related to the Israel-Gaza conflict are likely to be rejected due to concerns about potential public disorder.
The recent case involved community organizers Mossammad Sobikun Nahar and Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, as well as Kokila Annamalai, who helped facilitate the event in February 2024. About 70 people joined the walk from a shopping mall to the Istana, the presidential office, with participants carrying umbrellas styled to resemble watermelons, a symbol associated with the Palestinian struggle.
Prosecutors charged the women for conducting a procession without a permit in a prohibited area. During the trial, the defense argued that they were unaware their route was in a restricted zone as they traversed public roads. The judge acknowledged this, stating that while they had organized a procession, they could not have known they were breaking any laws in the area.
This ruling is significant, considering previous convictions for even minor public assemblies in Singapore. Local media reported gasps in the courtroom when the verdict was announced.
Following their acquittal, the women highlighted that while they were relieved, their ordeal should not have occurred in the first place. They see this as a beacon of hope for civil rights activism amid ongoing struggles in Singapore.
The prosecution has indicated intentions to appeal, and investigations into related events continue, illustrating the ongoing tension between civil rights and state restrictions in Singapore.
