Corrections regarding false statements by Singapore Democratic Party on charges against 3 women for alleged involvement in organising procession to the Istana

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has on 27 and 28 June 2024, published on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, false statements regarding the charges brought against three women for their alleged involvement in organising a procession to the Istana. The posts make the following false statements:

1. That the three women were prosecuted for organising support for the Palestinian people in the ongoing Gaza war, in the form of a procession to the Istana; and

2. That the Government, and in particular Minister K Shanmugam, prosecuted the three women because they had expressed views that the Government did not agree with.

Falsehoods and Facts

#1 Falsehood: That the women were prosecuted for organising support for the Palestinian people in the ongoing Gaza war, in the form of a procession to the Istana

Fact

• The three women - Ms Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, Ms Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, and Ms Mossammad Sobikun Nahar – were charged for an offence under Section 15(1) of the Public Order Act 2009 (the “POA”), for organising a procession in a prohibited area designated under Section 12 of the POA and the Public Order (Prohibited Areas) Order (i.e. in the vicinity of the Istana).

• They were not charged for organising support for the Palestinian people. Organising support for the Palestinian Cause is not a criminal offence. The Government itself has organised many events in support of the Palestinian Cause.

#2 Falsehood: That the Government, and in particular Minister K Shanmugam, prosecuted the three women because they had expressed views that the Government did not agree with

Fact

• As mentioned above, the three women were prosecuted for their alleged involvement in organising a procession in a prohibited area. They were not prosecuted for the views they had expressed.

• The decision to charge the three women was made by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, after its review of the Police’s investigative findings. The decision was not made by Minister K Shanmugam. The Minister does not make decisions relating to criminal prosecutions.

MHA would like to reiterate that the three women were charged for offences under the POA, for their alleged involvement in organising a procession in the vicinity of the Istana, which is a designated prohibited area. Any person who organises a public assembly or a procession in a designated prohibited area would have committed the offence, regardless of the cause or issue he or she is advocating for. Prohibited areas are security sensitive areas, and also include the Parliament House and the Supreme Court.

These laws exist to maintain the public peace and good order which Singaporeans enjoy today.

We know that some Singaporeans feel strongly about the Israel-Hamas conflict, in support of both sides of the conflict. The very large majority of these views have been expressed in lawful ways, online and also during the many forums and dialogues that have been organised by the authorities and other entities, as well as through support for donation drives.

We would like to urge members of the public not to engage in activities that will damage the peace, public order and social harmony which Singaporeans have worked hard to achieve, and enjoy today. We should not deliberately break the law, even if to make a point. If we do so, eventually, we will become a lawless, unstable, and disorderly society.

POFMA Correction Direction

The Minister for Home Affairs has instructed the POFMA Office to issue a Correction Direction to the SDP; and for a Targeted Correction Direction to be issued to TikTok Pte Ltd. SDP will be required to carry correction notices alongside its Facebook and Instagram posts, and create a new TikTok post containing a correction notice. TikTok will also be required to communicate a correction notice to all end-users in Singapore that had accessed the TikTok post. The Correction Direction requires recipients to insert a notice against the original post, with a link to the Government’s clarification.