Singapore Court Acquits Three Women Over Pro-Palestinian Walk

Wed Oct 22 2025 22:29:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a landmark decision, a Singapore court has acquitted three women charged with organizing an illegal procession in support of the Palestinian cause. The ruling highlights tensions between civil liberties and government regulations on public gatherings.

A Singapore court has acquitted three women who organized a walk supporting Palestine, initially charged with holding an illegal procession. The ruling reflects the broader context of stringent regulations on public demonstrations in Singapore, where authorities often disallow gatherings related to sensitive political issues. Activists see the acquittal as a significant morale boost in their ongoing struggle for civil rights.

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, but a judge ruled their actions did not meet the full charge.

One of the women told the BBC she felt that the unexpected acquittal would give a new sense of energy and hope to activists in Singapore. Public demonstrations are uncommon in Singapore, which has very strict rules against protests and requires a police permit for any gathering promoting a cause. Authorities have also effectively banned public gatherings related to the Israel-Gaza war.

Any permit applications for public assemblies related to the Israel-Gaza war would be turned down because of the real risk that such events could give rise to public disorder as the war was a sensitive topic, authorities have said. Singapore's government has argued that rules on demonstrations are necessary to maintain peace and harmony in the tiny country. Critics say that these rules stifle freedom of expression and civil activism.

The latest case centered on an event organized in February 2024 by community organizer Mossammad Sobikun Nahar and content creator Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, assisted by community organizer Kokila Annamalai. About 70 people showed up to take part in the walk from a shopping mall to the presidential office, known as the Istana.

Pictures of the event posted online showed the participants carrying umbrellas painted to look like watermelons, a symbol associated with the Palestinian cause. Prosecutors later charged the three women for organizing a procession without a permit in a prohibited area.

During their trial, the defense argued that the women had not known that their route on the perimeter of the Istana was in a prohibited area, as they had traveled along public roads. While the judge ruled that the women had indeed organized a procession, they also would not have any inkling that using that route would be illegal or prohibited.

He noted they had used a public pavement and there were no signs indicating it was a prohibited area. It is clear from the evidence that the three of them were trying their level best not to run afoul of the law, he said.

If they had been convicted, each of the women could have been fined up to S$10,000 (£5,760; US$7,705), or jailed for up to six months, or received both penalties.

The trial drew some attention in Singapore. Pictures of the three women dressed in clothing in the colors of the Palestinian flag and keffiyeh scarves for their court appearances went viral online. Ms. Annamalai told the BBC that they deliberately chose their outfits to send a statement and show our defiance and solidarity.

Local media reported gasps in the courtroom filled with supporters when the verdict was read. Ms. Annamalai said she had been fully prepared to be convicted and that their acquittal came as a surprise. In a statement to the BBC, Singapore's prosecutorial office announced it would file an appeal.