Protests in Support of Palestine in Singapore Lead to Charges
Three women, including an activist of Indian origin, have been charged for protesting in support of Palestine in Singapore. The accused include 35-year-old Annamalai Kokila Parvati and two women of Malay ethnicity, 29-year-old Siti Amira Mohammad Asrori and 25-year-old Mossad Sobikun Nahar. Earlier this year, a demonstration in a prohibited area in Singapore in support of Palestine took place without permission, involving about 70 people. The Singapore court has charged three women in connection with this incident, including the Indian activist Annamalai.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
According to Channel News Asia’s report, the three accused women had held a meeting or procession without a permit within the prohibited area of Istana on February 2, leading to charges under the Public Order Act. Annamalai, the well-known activist, is accused of promoting the alleged crime by involving Mossad, Siti Amira, and others in the unauthorized protest. The accused were represented by a lawyer who requested six weeks to present their case, indicating no plea at the moment. The lawyer mentioned plans to apply for Annamalai to leave the country to meet her family in July, which would be considered separately.
Incident Details and Consequences
The protesters participating in the demonstration on February 2 walked from Plaza Singapura to the Istana, displaying letters addressed to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in support of Palestine. Annamalai had previously received a stern warning in 2017 and a conditional warning in 2021 for attending other public gatherings without a permit. If found guilty, each of the three accused women could face a jail term exceeding six months or a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars. The hearing dates for Mossad and Annamalai’s cases are set for August 8, while Siti Amira’s case will be heard on July 25.
