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Singapore denies entry to Malaysian activist
Singaporean authorities refused entry to Malaysian human rights lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri this week, labeling her an "undesirable visitor" due to her political activism, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday.
Ministry cites radical influence concerns
The ministry accused Fadiah of encouraging Singaporean youths to "adopt her brand of radical advocacy," specifically urging them to "go beyond protests" and engage in "disruptive and violent actions" for certain causes. No further details on the alleged advocacy were provided.
"We will not tolerate foreigners getting involved in our domestic politics, nor the promotion of unlawful, violent and disruptive methods of civil protest," the ministry stated.
Scholar disputes allegations, cites personal plans
Fadiah, a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and anti-corruption activist, called the entry ban "a deliberate attack on my scholarly work" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She described the experience as "extremely distressing and outrageous."
According to Fadiah, she had planned to visit Singapore to collect her PhD degree certificate from the National University of Singapore, awarded in January. She was also scheduled to deliver a guest lecture on her thesis, cat-sit for a friend, and retrieve personal books.
Fadiah shared a photo of an immigration notice dated Sunday, which declared her "ineligible for the issue of a pass under current immigration policies." When she requested clarification, authorities declined to provide specific reasons, she said.
Singapore's strict protest rules under scrutiny
Singapore enforces stringent regulations on public assemblies, requiring police permits for any gathering promoting a cause. The government argues these measures preserve social harmony in the densely populated city-state, while critics contend they suppress free expression and activism.
In 2024, three women were charged with organizing an illegal procession after staging a pro-Palestinian march but were later acquitted. Last year, Singapore denied entry to Nathan Law, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist invited to a closed-door conference.
Fadiah's background and response
Fadiah is a human rights lawyer and researcher affiliated with Front Line Defenders, an Irish-based NGO. Her work focuses on anti-corruption and Palestinian rights, with a significant following on social media.
"This ban is not just about me-it's about silencing critical voices and stifling academic exchange," Fadiah wrote on X.
