27-6-2024 (SINGAPORE) A trio of women found themselves in the legal crosshairs after allegations surfaced that they orchestrated an unauthorized assembly of around 70 individuals who delivered letters to the Istana in a show of support for the Palestinian cause. The incident, which took place on February 2, has led to charges being filed against Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, 35, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 29, and Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, 25, under the Public Order Act for organizing a procession or assembly without a permit in a prohibited area surrounding the Istana.
The three women appeared before the court on Thursday, accompanied by a group of more than ten individuals, including prominent activist Jolovan Wham. They were represented by lawyer Derek Wong, who informed the court that he had been appointed only a day prior. Wong requested six weeks to make representations, stating that there was no indication of a plea at this juncture.
Additionally, Wong revealed his intention to file an urgent application to allow Annamalai to travel abroad in July to visit family members, a matter that will be heard separately.
All three accused were offered bail of S$5,000 (US$3,684), with Mossammad and Annamalai’s cases scheduled for further mention on August 8, while Siti Amirah’s case will be heard on July 25. The prosecutor noted that Siti Amirah had a “similar case” pending investigation.
According to the Singapore Police Force, the women allegedly organized a procession to demonstrate their support for the Palestinian cause, including soliciting attendance online. On February 2, a group of approximately 70 individuals assembled along Orchard Road outside a shopping mall at around 2 pm and proceeded to walk towards the Istana, carrying umbrellas painted with watermelon images – a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, as the colors reflect those of the Palestinian flag.
Social media posts indicate that participants of the “Letters for Palestine” event walked from Plaza Singapura to the Istana to deliver letters addressed to the then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The police revealed that Annamalai had previously been issued a stern warning on December 5, 2017, and a 24-month conditional warning on November 30, 2021, for her involvement in other public assemblies without a permit. Siti Amirah is also under investigation for offenses related to a separate incident, though details were not provided.
Investigations into other individuals involved in the same event are ongoing, and the police have urged the public “not to engage in activities that will damage the peace, public order and social harmony which Singaporeans have worked hard to achieve.”
“We understand that some people may feel strongly about the Israel-Hamas conflict, but they should not break the law to express their views, nor emulate the protestors in other countries,” the police statement read, suggesting that individuals could instead participate in appropriately organized forums, dialogues, and donation drives on the issue.
If convicted, each of the accused women faces a potential jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to S$10,000, underscoring the severity of the charges and the authorities’ stance on maintaining public order and adherence to the law.
