6 women, aged 22-36, to be charged in S'pore over public assemblies, processions without permit for Palestinian cause

Six women, aged 22 to 36, will be charged in court on Sep. 9, 2026 under the Public Order Act.

They were allegedly involved in various incidents at prohibited areas or participated in public assemblies and processions without a permit, and other related offences.

Procession at Istana on Feb. 2, 2024

A 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman will each be charged with one count of participating in a procession without a permit in a prohibited area.

On Feb. 2, 2024, both women participated in a procession without a permit, along the perimeter of the Istana.

The group had assembled along Orchard Road and walked towards the Istana, carrying umbrellas imprinted with watermelon images, a symbol of Palestinian resistance and solidarity, to showcase their support for the Palestinian cause.

The Istana is a security-sensitive area and is designated as a prohibited area.

The police noted that three women, the organisers of the procession, were earlier convicted and fined S$3,000 each in April 2026.

Both the women are also involved in a separate mass kite-flying event at Marina Barrage, the police noted.

The two women will each be charged with one additional count of organising a public assembly without a permit for the separate incident.

Additionally, the 33-year-old woman was issued a stern warning on Sep. 2, 2026 for her involvement in a banner that was hung in support of a cause at Gardens by the Bay on Apr. 15, 2024.

Event outside State Courts on Feb. 2, 2024

A 24-year-old woman will be charged with one count of knowingly committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups, in relation to a chant she had made during an event that was livestreamed publicly on Feb. 2, 2024.

She was leading the chanting of the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which supports the elimination of the Jewish State of Israel.

She will also be charged with two additional counts under the Public Order Act arising from further incidents in Novena and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

This is on top of four counts under the same Act and two counts of refusing to answer a public servant authorised to question, arising from her participation in candlelight vigils on Nov. 22 and 29, 2024, and Jan. 23, 2025, to mark the executions of three convicted drug traffickers on death row, as well as a protest outside the State Courts on Feb. 3, 2025.

The State Courts is a prohibited area.

The 24-year-old woman had previously been issued a 12-month conditional warning on Nov. 30, 2021 for participating in a public assembly without a permit and contravening a "Move-on" direction by the police.

This was in relation to a protest held outside the Ministry of Education Headquarters on Jan. 26, 2021.

Public procession from Novena MRT to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Jun. 7, 2024

The 24-year-old woman charged for her role in leading a chant and a 22-year-old woman will each be charged with one count of participating in a public procession without a permit, for moving from the Novena MRT vicinity to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) located at New Phoenix Park for a letter delivery on Jun. 7, 2024.

The group also issued a statement stating that they had walked towards MHA, with many of them wearing shirts that said, “There Are No Universities Left in Gaza”.

Public assembly without a permit on Oct. 27, 2024 at Marina Barrage

The 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman charged with participating in a procession without a permit at the Istana, together with a 32-year-old woman and a second 33-year-old woman, will each be charged with one count of organising a public assembly without a permit.

The four women had each played a role in organising a mass kite-flying event held at Marina Barrage on Oct. 27, 2024, to publicise a cause in relation to the Gaza conflict.

The 32-year-old woman will additionally be charged with one count of using abusive behaviour to a public servant.

Additionally, the second 33-year-old women has been issued a stern warning on Sep. 3, 2026 for her involvement in an incident where a banner was hung at Gardens by the Bay on Apr. 15, 2024.

Public assembly without a permit on Jan. 13, 2025 for staged memorial at NUS

The 24-year-old woman will be additionally charged with one count of organising a public assembly without a permit.

The woman was believed to have organised a public assembly without a permit in front of a building within NUS on Jan. 13, 2025.

The group gathered multiple individuals to place shoes and a white burial shroud at the location to demonstrate opposition to the ties between educational institutions in Singapore and Israel.

Mothership understands that two of the six women are sisters.

They had previously confronted Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, at his Meet-the-People Session on Mar. 12, 2025.

Police advisory

The police said in the news release that public assemblies in Singapore are regulated under the Public Order Act.

Organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit constitutes an offence, they said.

"The police will not grant any permit for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries or foreign entities, or may have the potential to stir emotions and lead to public order incidents," they said.

"The peace and harmony between different races and religions in Singapore should not be taken for granted, and we must not let events happening externally affect the communal harmony."

Penalties

For organising a public procession without a permit in a prohibited area, those found guilty can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or both.

For participating in a procession without a permit in a prohibited area and organising or participating in a public assembly without a permit, those found guilty can be fined up to S$5,000.

For knowingly committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of racial harmony, those found guilty can be jailed up to three years, fined, or both.

For using abusive behaviour towards a public servant, those found guilty can be fined up to S$5,000.