6 women to be charged for alleged pro-Palestinian acts in prohibited areas

Six women will be charged in court on Wednesday (Sept 9) for allegedly being involved in various incidents at prohibited areas or participating in public assemblies and processions without a permit.

The women, aged between 22 and 36, were allegedly involved in pro-Palestinian acts, the police said on Tuesday.

Among them, a 33-year-old and 36-year-old had allegedly participated in a procession without a permit along the perimeter of the Istana on Feb 2, 2024.

They had allegedly gathered on Orchard Road and walked towards the Istana while carrying umbrellas with watermelon images, which are symbolic of Palestinian resistance and solidarity.

"The Istana is a security-sensitive area and is designated as a prohibited area under the Public Order (Prohibited Areas) Order 2009," the police explained.

Both will be charged with one count of participating in a procession without a permit in a prohibited area under the Public Order Act.

The duo, along with a 32-year-old and another 33-year-old woman, will also be charged with one count organising a public assembly without a permit under the Public Order Act.

A mass kite-flying event was organised by the group and held at Marina Barrage on Oct 27, 2024, to raise awareness of the Gaza conflict.

The 32-year-old woman will also face a charge of using abusive behaviour to a public servant under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014.

Additionally, the second 33-year-old woman had also been issued a stern warning on Sept 3, 2026, for her involvement in an incident where a banner was hung at Gardens by the Bay on April 15, 2024.

Assemblies without permits

Separately, a 24-year-old had reportedly chanted: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", during a livestreamed event on Feb 2, 2024.

This phrase supports the elimination of Israel, the police stated.

For this act, she faces a charge of knowingly committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups.

Following a protest held outside the Ministry of Education headquarters on Jan 26, 2021, the 24-year-old was also issued a 12-month conditional warning on Nov 30, 2021, for participating in a public assembly without a permit.

She had also allegedly contravened a 'move-on' direction by the police.

The same 24-year-old also faces a charge of participating in a public procession without a permit under the Public Order Act alongside a 22-year-old for walking from Novena MRT to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deliver a letter on June 7, 2024.

While walking as a group, many of them had worn shirts that stated: "There are no universities left in Gaza."

On Jan 13, 2025, she also reportedly organised a public assembly without a permit in front of a building within the National University of Singapore.

This assembly saw people place shoes and a white burial shroud at the location, signifying opposition against Singapore-Israel ties in education.

She also faces two additional counts of refusing to answer a public servant authorised to question after she had allegedly participated in candlelight vigils on Nov 22 and 29, 2024, and on Jan 23, 2025.

These vigils were held in relation to the executions of three convicted drug traffickers on death row; she was also reportedly involved in a protest outside the State Courts on Feb 3, 2025.

The State Courts is a Prohibited Area under the Public Order (Prohibited Areas) Order 2009, the police said.

Public assemblies regulated: Police

If found guilty of organising an assembly or procession without a permit, the women may face up to $10,000 in fines and jail for up to six months.

For taking part in an unpermitted assembly or procession, the women may face a fine up to $5,000.

For promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of race and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, the 24-year-old faces a fine and jail for up to three years.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old may be fined up to $5,000 for her offence under the Protection from Harassment Act.

The police stressed that public assemblies in Singapore are regulated under the Public Order Act, and that organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore constitutes an offence under the Act.

khooyihang@asiaone.com

9月9日（星期三），六名女性将因涉嫌参与禁区内的各种事件或未经许可参加公共集会和游行而被控上法庭。

警方周二表示，这些年龄在 22 岁至 36 岁之间的女性涉嫌参与亲巴勒斯坦活动。

其中，一名 33 岁男子和一名 36 岁男子据称于 2024 年 2 月 2 日未经许可，在总统府周边参加了游行。

据称，他们聚集在乌节路，撑着印有西瓜图案的雨伞，向总统府走去。西瓜象征着巴勒斯坦人的抵抗和团结。

警方解释说：“总统府是安全敏感区域，根据 2009 年《公共秩序（禁区）令》，该区域被指定为禁区。”

两人均将被指控违反《公共秩序法》，未经许可在禁区参加游行。

这对男女，以及一名 32 岁男子和另一名 33 岁女子，还将因违反《公共秩序法》未经许可组织公共集会而被控一项罪名。

该组织于 2024 年 10 月 27 日在滨海堤坝组织了一场大规模放风筝活动，以提高人们对加沙冲突的认识。

这名 32 岁的女子还将面临根据 2014 年《防止骚扰法》对公务人员使用辱骂行为的指控。

此外，第二名 33 岁女子也因参与 2024 年 4 月 15 日在滨海湾花园悬挂横幅的事件，于 2026 年 9 月 3 日受到严厉警告。

未经许可的集会

另据报道，一名 24 岁的男子在 2024 年 2 月 2 日的一场直播活动中高喊：“从河流到海洋，巴勒斯坦将获得自由。”

警方表示，这句话支持消灭以色列。

为此，她面临一项指控，即明知故犯地实施了不利于维护不同种族群体之间和谐的行为。

2021 年 1 月 26 日，这名 24 岁的男子在教育部总部外举行抗议活动后，于 2021 年 11 月 30 日因未经许可参加公共集会而被处以 12 个月的有条件警告。

据称她还违反了警方的“驱离”指令。

这名 24 岁的男子还面临一项指控，即与一名 22 岁的男子一起违反《公共秩序法》，在没有获得许可的情况下参加公共游行。他们于 2024 年 6 月 7 日从诺维娜地铁站步行至内政部递交了一封信。

他们结伴而行时，许多人穿着印有“加沙已无大学”字样的T恤。

据报道，2025年1月13日，她还在新加坡国立大学的一栋建筑物前组织了一场未经许可的公众集会。

在这次集会上，人们将鞋子和白色裹尸布放置在现场，以示对新加坡与以色列在教育领域建立联系的反对。

她还面临另外两项指控，即在她涉嫌参加 2024 年 11 月 22 日和 29 日以及 2025 年 1 月 23 日的烛光守夜活动后，拒绝回答有权询问的公务人员的质询。

这些守夜活动与三名被判死刑的毒贩被执行死刑有关；据报道，她还参与了 2025 年 2 月 3 日在州法院外举行的抗议活动。

警方表示，根据 2009 年《公共秩序（禁区）令》，州法院属于禁区。

公共集会管制：警方

如果被判犯有组织未经许可集会或游行的罪行，这些妇女可能面临最高 10,000 美元的罚款和最高 6 个月的监禁。

参加未经许可的集会或游行的妇女可能会面临最高 5000 美元的罚款。

这名 24 岁的男子因煽动不同群体之间的种族仇恨，并做出有损社会和谐的行为，面临罚款和最高三年的监禁。

与此同时，这名 32 岁的女子可能因违反《防止骚扰法》而被处以最高 5000 美元的罚款。

警方强调，新加坡的公共集会受《公共秩序法》的管制，在新加坡组织或参与未经警方许可的公共集会均构成违反该法的罪行。

khooyihang@asiaone.com