SINGAPORE: A district court on 21 October 2025 has acquitted three Singaporean women accused of organising a procession in support of Palestine, ruling that they did not know the route they took was within a prohibited area under the Public Order Act.
District Judge John Ng found that Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, 26, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 30, and Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, 37, could not reasonably have known that the walkway outside the Istana perimeter was restricted.
The women were each charged with organising a procession between 2pm and 3pm on 2 February 2024 to publicise a cause of solidarity with Palestine.
Their trial began on 18 September after they were charged in June 2024.
In his ruling, Judge Ng said the prosecution successfully proved the first element of the charge — that Sobikun and Amirah had organised the walk, and Annamalai assisted on the day.
However, the prosecution failed to show that the women knew, or ought to have known, that the area was prohibited.
The judge noted there were no visible signs indicating restrictions along the public path outside the Istana.
He also observed that previous walks had been conducted along the same route to deliver letters to the Istana’s rear gate, where the mailroom is located.
Participants ‘tried their best to stay lawful’
“It was clear from the evidence that the three were trying their level best not to run afoul of the law,” Judge Ng stated. Despite their efforts, he said, “contrary to their best thinking, the walk amounted to a procession.”
He concluded, “An acquittal of the three persons is in order,” prompting audible gasps and applause from the packed courtroom.
Background on the event
According to a police statement, around 70 people gathered outside Plaza Singapura mall at about 2pm on 2 February 2024 before marching towards the Istana.
Participants carried umbrellas painted with watermelon motifs, a recognised symbol of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel–Palestinian conflict.
Social media posts later identified the activity as part of the “Letters for Palestine” initiative, during which participants intended to deliver letters to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Istana Security Unit officer: Pro-Palestinian procession posed no threat, was cooperative
During cross-examination earlier on 3 July 2025, a commanding officer from the Istana Security Unit testified that the event was peaceful and did not warrant police intervention.
He stated that although he had the authority to disperse the crowd or make arrests, he chose not to, as the participants were cooperative.
“If they posed… a serious incident, I would have definitely had the power to exercise,” he said.
The officer also referred to a similar peaceful event held on 11 January 2024, where no legal action was taken.
The defence, led by lawyer Uthayasurian Sidambaram, argued that no signs indicated the route taken was within a prohibited area.
It was also noted in court that there is no alternative pedestrian path from Plaza Singapura to the Istana.
Had the three women been convicted, they could have faced up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
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