23-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) Social media influencers Camira Asrori and Dahlia Mohd found themselves in the spotlight after being questioned by Singapore authorities following their involvement in pro-Palestine activities. Asrori, a well-known fashion entrepreneur with over 27,300 followers, shared her experience in a video posted on Instagram and TikTok. In the clip, which garnered over 1.35 million views, she revealed that she was stopped at a checkpoint upon her return to Singapore and advised against encouraging Singaporeans to protest overseas. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that Asrori was cautioned due to concerns about public disorder and potential harm to individuals involved in such protests.
Similarly, Dahlia Mohd, an influencer with nearly 20,000 followers, faced questioning from authorities after someone lodged a complaint regarding her posts and fundraising efforts to aid Palestinians in Gaza. The MHA expressed concerns about organizations using the Israel-Hamas conflict as a guise for funding terrorist activities or engaging in scams. While the Singaporean government supports humanitarian donations for Gaza, Mohd was advised to verify the credibility of organizations and donate to officially verified ones to avoid unintentionally supporting terrorist groups.
Under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, it is illegal for Singaporean citizens to collect assets if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the assets will be used for terrorist acts. The MHA’s response to these influencers reflects the government’s commitment to maintaining public safety and preventing individuals from inadvertently contributing to illegal activities.
