Six women to be charged over unpermitted public assemblies in Singapore

Six women aged between 22 and 36 will be charged in court on September 9 under the Public Order Act and the Penal Code. The charges relate to their alleged involvement in unpermitted public assemblies and processions, many of which were in support of the Palestinian cause. Some of the incidents occurred in prohibited areas, including the Istana and the State Courts.

Two women, aged 33 and 36, will be charged with participating in a procession without a permit on February 2, 2024. They allegedly walked toward the Istana while holding umbrellas with watermelon images, which are symbols of Palestinian resistance and solidarity. These two women, along with two others aged 32 and 33, will also be charged with organizing a mass kite-flying event at Marina Barrage on October 27, 2024, to publicize a cause related to the Gaza conflict. The 32-year-old woman faces an additional charge of abusive behavior toward a public servant.

A 24-year-old woman faces multiple charges, including one count of knowingly committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups. This charge stems from a chant she allegedly led during a public livestream on February 2, 2024. She is also charged with participating in candlelight vigils for executed drug traffickers in November 2024 and January 2025, as well as a protest outside the State Courts on February 3, 2025. Additionally, she and a 22-year-old woman will be charged for a procession from Novena MRT station to the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 7, 2024, to deliver a letter.

The 24-year-old woman had previously received a conditional warning in 2021 for a protest outside the Ministry of Education headquarters. While the center-leaning report focuses on the specific legal charges and the nature of the prohibited areas, the center-right report emphasizes the potential penalties, including fines up to 5,000 dollars or jail terms of up to three years for serious offenses.