Singapore: The Singapore court has fined three women who organised a walk in support of the Palestinian cause, overturning an earlier acquittal in a case that has reignited debate over public assembly laws in the city-state.
The Singapore High Court imposed fines of $2,300 (S$3,000) on each of the three activists after allowing an appeal by prosecutors. The decision reversed a lower court ruling from October 2025, which had cleared the women of organising an illegal procession.
The case stems from a February 2024 incident in which Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori and Kokila Annamalai led around 70 participants on a walk from a shopping mall to the presidential compound, known as Istana. The group aimed to deliver letters to the prime minister urging the government to cut ties with Israel with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Images from the event showed participants carrying umbrellas printed with watermelons, a symbol widely associated with pro-Palestinian solidarity.
The women were charged in June 2024 for organising a public procession without a permit in a prohibited area. During the initial trial, the defence argued that the group had remained on public roads and was unaware that the route near the Istana required special permission.
The trial judge acquitted them, noting that they had made efforts to comply with the law and were trying their level best not to run afoul of regulations. However, the High Court ruled that the organisers should have taken additional steps to verify whether their planned route was permitted, ultimately finding them liable and imposing fines.
Reacting to the ruling, activist Kokila Annamalai said the decision underscores ongoing challenges for civil society in Singapore. Public demonstrations are tightly regulated in Singapore, where authorities say strict controls are necessary to preserve social harmony.
Gatherings linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict have effectively been prohibited, reflecting the government’s cautious approach to politically sensitive issues. Critics, however, argue that such restrictions limit freedom of expression and constrain civic activism, a debate that this case is likely to keep in focus.
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