The Police are aware of events and public assemblies being organised in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The National Parks Board (NParks) has also received applications to use the Speakers’ Corner for events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Police have assessed that there are public safety and security concerns associated with such events, given the heightened tensions. NParks shares the same concerns. There have been numerous incidents of violence reported in many countries amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. For instance, an Israeli staff from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing was stabbed in front of a supermarket, and a teacher was fatally stabbed by a Chechen individual in France. 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 internal situation within Singapore. Given the sensitivity of the topic and the volatility of the situation overseas, there is a real risk that such events could give rise to public disorder. As such, applications to hold such events will be turned down.
The Police would like to remind members of the public that public assemblies in Singapore are regulated under the Public Order Act 2009, and that organising or participating in a public assembly without a Police permit in Singapore constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act 2009. 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.
The Police would also like to remind members of the public to engage in responsible and respectful discussions on this topic, online or otherwise, and avoid making insensitive or offensive remarks about race or religion, which may threaten Singapore’s racial and religious harmony. Under Singapore law:
- Uttering words with the deliberate intention of wounding the racial feelings of a person is an offence under Section 298 of the Penal Code 1871, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or fine, or both.
- Knowingly promoting or attempting to promote, on grounds of race, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different racial groups is an offence under Section 298A(a) of the Penal Code 1871, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or fine, or both.
- Committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquility is an offence under Section 298A(b) of the Penal Code 1871, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or fine, or both.
- Knowingly engaging in conduct on the ground of religion or religious belief or activity that urges violence against a target person or target group, or knowingly engaging in conduct urging violence against a target person or target group distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity, is an offence under Section 17E of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to ten years, or fine, or both.
- Knowingly engaging in conduct that incites feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against any target group distinguished by religion, religious belief or activity, knowing that such feelings against the target group are likely to occur, and where such feelings would threaten the public peace or public order in Singapore, is an offence under Section 17F(3) of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, or fine, or both.
- Knowingly engaging in conduct that insults the religion or religious belief or activity, or wounds the religious feelings of, a target person distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity, knowing that such insult or wounding is likely to occur, and where the insult or wounding would threaten the public peace or public order in Singapore, is an offence under Section 17F(4) of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, or fine, or both.
The Police take a serious view of acts which could potentially harm the racial and religious harmony in Singapore. Any person who makes remarks or acts in a manner which potentially causes ill-will and hostility between different races or religious groups in Singapore will be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with the law.
NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
18 October 2023 @ 9:00 AM