A court in Singapore has acquitted three women who organized a walk to the presidential office to show support for the Palestinian cause.
The women were prosecuted for organizing an illegal procession. But a judge ruled their actions did not meet the full charge.
One of the women told the BBC she felt that the unexpected acquittal would give a new sense of energy and hope to activists in Singapore.
Public demonstrations are uncommon in Singapore, which has very strict rules against protests and requires a police permit for any gathering promoting a cause. Authorities have also effectively banned public gatherings related to the Israel-Gaza war.
Any permit applications for public assemblies related to the Israel-Gaza war would be turned down because of the real risk that such events could give rise to public disorder, as the war was a sensitive topic, authorities have said.
Singapore's government has argued that rules on demonstrations are necessary to maintain peace and harmony in the tiny country. Critics say that these rules stifle freedom of expression and civil activism.
The latest case centered on an event organized in February 2024 by community organizer Mossammad Sobikun Nahar and content creator Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, assisted by community organizer Kokila Annamalai.
About 70 people showed up to participate in the walk from a shopping mall to the presidential office, known as the Istana.
During their trial, defense argued that the women had not known their route on the perimeter of the Istana was a prohibited area as they had traveled along public roads.
While the judge ruled that the women had indeed organized a procession, they also would not have any inkling that using that route would be illegal or prohibited. He noted they had used a public pavement, and there were no signs indicating it was a prohibited area. It is clear from the evidence that the three of them were trying their level best not to run afoul of the law, he said.
If convicted, each of the women could have faced a fine of up to S$10,000 (£5,760; US$7,705), or jail for up to six months, or both.
The trial drew attention in Singapore, with images of the three women in clothing representing the Palestinian flag and scarves going viral online.
Ms. Annamalai remarked that their acquittal could provide a new sense of energy and hope in the ongoing fight for civil rights and support for Palestine in Singapore. However, she stated it is bittersweet, as they should not have been charged in the first place.
In a statement, Singapore's prosecutorial office announced plans to file an appeal, amid ongoing police investigations into related events and public expressions linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The Singapore government has consistently supported a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine and has expressed willingness to recognize a Palestinian state under certain conditions.
