Court finds women unaware of route restrictions under Public Order Act during pro-Palestine march
A Singapore court on Tuesday (October 21, 2025) acquitted three women — including a 37-year-old Indian-origin woman — of organising a pro-Palestine procession near the presidential palace, ruling that they were unaware the route was prohibited under the Public Order Act, reported thehindu.com.
The women were part of a group of around 70 people who walked to the rear gate of the Istana — the official residence of the President of Singapore — on February 2, 2024, to hand-deliver letters to the Prime Minister’s Office expressing solidarity with Palestine.
- Indian-origin Annamalai Kokila Parvathi and two Singaporean women had faced charges for leading a walk around the Istana to deliver letters supporting the Palestinian cause
According to court documents, the trio were charged under the Public Order Act for organising a procession along the Istana perimeter without a valid permit. However, the judge found that they had not been made aware that the area was designated as a restricted zone, exempting them from liability under the law.
The acquittal has drawn attention to Singapore’s strict public assembly laws, which require prior approval for any public demonstration, even peaceful ones. Legal experts noted that while the court’s ruling reaffirmed the need for public awareness about protest regulations, it also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between intentional and unintentional breaches of the law.
Authorities have not yet commented on whether they plan to appeal the verdict.
