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| The Straits Times on 12 December, 1950 |
The Maria Hertogh riots happened on 11 December 1950. It sparked off as a result of the custody battle between Maria Hertogh’s adoptive Malay family and her European parents. Maria Hertogh (a girl of Dutch heritage), was separated from her natural parents during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore in WWII. She was adopted by a Malay family who sheltered and raised her as a Muslim girl. After the war, her natural parents launched a legal battle for the custody of their child after they received news of her whereabouts in
The custody battle soon gained intense media attention worldwide. Maria Hertogh was taken into protective custody by the Social Welfare Department and during that time, the media took photographs and published them on the papers about a Muslim girl in a Catholic convent. It was even reported that she had bowed down to the Virgin Mary! These affected the religious sensitivities and began to stir up strong emotions among the Muslim community in the country.
Maria’s foster mother, Che Aminah appealed to the courts and was given temporary custody of the child. During the period of custody, the Muslim family arranged to have her married to a 22 year old teacher in order to gain control over the situation. As Maria was underage at that time, the marriage was declared null and void. On 11 December 1950, the judge rejected Aminah’s appeal and ordered Maria to be returned to her biological parents. Upon hearing the judgment, huge crowds began to riot outside the court to express their displeasure over the outcome. It soon spread to other parts of the country, as the Muslims are convinced that the laws, courts and legal system were prejudiced against them at that time. In the three days of rioting, 18 people were killed and 173 people were injured. There was also widespread destruction to personal property.
As a result of the Maria Hertogh riots, the Government of Singapore instituted legislation against racial and religious discrimination in 1965. The constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, other laws and policies restricted this right in some circumstances. Publications and public discussions of religious issues are generally considered out of bounds, and negative or inflammatory portrayals of religion are subjected to censorship. The Government does not tolerate speech or actions that it deems could adversely affect racial or religious harmony. It became an offence to incite racial and religious hatred in Singapore
REFERENCES CITED:
Maria Hertogh Riots (Wikipedia) -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Hertogh_riots
Religion in Singapore (Wikipedia) -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Singapore
REFERENCES CITED:
Maria Hertogh Riots (Wikipedia) -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Hertogh_riots
Religion in Singapore (Wikipedia) -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Singapore
EXERCISE:
Learning from our history, it is therefore very important to learn to respect one another’s religion in order to maintain peace and harmony in a society. This is particularly important in Singapore
Research the internet and give another example on "Religion and Riots" around the world (may be historical or present). Comment on the truth of the above statement, and think of a way which we can exercise respect for one another's religion.
Instructions:
- Use Word to type out your essay first (must have a minimum of 120 words).
- You may research your answers from the Internet.
- Do a spell check for grammar and spelling errors.
- When you are satisfied, “cut and paste” your essay into the comments box below this article (remember to include your Class and Register Number) and submit.
Hindu mobs ransacked a church and clashed with Christian villagers in eastern India as authorities struggled to control spiralling religious violence in the region, police said today.The mobs have destroyed more than a dozen churches and attacked Christians in eastern Orissa state this week after the murder of a Hindu leader in Kandhamal district, a tribal area where Christian missionaries have been active for years.Shoot-on-sight orders and curfews to control violence have so far failed to end clashes that have killed at least 11 people.Police deployed more than 3,000 personnel in the streets today but they could not stop the ransacking of at least one church. Local media said as many as four churches were attacked.
ReplyDelete"Police are marching in several areas now," Orissa police chief Gopal Chandra Nanda told Reuters.Television pictures showed mobs armed with rods putting up road blocks and others attacking churches. Other mobs armed with bows and arrows and axes have attacked Christian homes, dragging out women and children. Hundreds have fled to forests and nearby hills, officials said."Moments after we passed by a Christian village, people set it on fire and everything was over within minutes," a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said from Kandhamal, the worst-hit district. [Chan Kit Yee(3) Secondary 2N8]
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ReplyDeleteThe Bombay Riots usually refers to the riots in Bombay, in December 1992 and January 1993, in which around 900 people died. An investigative commission was formed under Justice B.N. Srikrishna, but the recommendations of the Inquiry were not enforced. In 2008, several members of the Shiv Sena were indicted for their involvement in the riots. This was followed by the 12 March 1993 Bombay Bombings, perpetuated by underworld elementswith alleged help of ganglord Dawood Ibrahim and his D-Company syndicate, in which 250 people, mostly Hindus died.
It is important to maintain relgious harmony because you wouldn't want going out on the streets and get beaten up just because you're a chinese, malay, indian or eurasion.
Bombay Riot
ReplyDeleteThe riots started as a result of communal tension prevailing in the city after the Babri Mosque demolition on 6 December 1992.The second phase was a Hindu backlash occurring as a result of the killings of Hindu Mathadi Kamgar (workers) by Muslims in Dongri (an area of South Bombay), stabbing of hindus in muslim majority areas and burning of six hindus including a physically handicapped girl in radhabai chawl.It is believed that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the enormous Muslim casualties and widespread damage to the Muslim owned businesses and properties which occurred during theBombay riots.Dead — 900 (575 Muslims, 275 Hindus, 45 unknown and 5 others). The causes for the deaths are police firing (356), stabbing (347), arson (91), mob action (80), private firing (22) and other causes (4)
There is a riot in Philadelphia on June 1844. This riot is known as the Bible Riot. Many of the immigrants of the 1840s and 1850s were Catholics. While some Catholics had emigrated during the Colonial period, until after the revolution many states had statutes that prevented them from exercising full legal or civil rights. As Irish Catholic immigrants began to flood into coastal cities, accepting lower wages than native workingmen, economic grievances were added to suspicions against "Popery." It is important to maintain religious harmony because it is important to respect other religion if you want them to respect yours. It is also important because you do not want to fight with other people or even get killed by them and i think that you should respect other religions to maintain religious harmony.
ReplyDelete33 2/8
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ReplyDeleteThe death and destruction caused by rioters in the U.K. has been difficult to watch. One tragic story sticks out for how well a victim’s family religion was highlighted. That story is about the death of Haroon Jahan, one of three Muslim men to die after being hit by a car during riots in Birmingham,his father Tariq Jahan rushed to aid the men, only to find out that one of the victims was his own son.Police launched a murder inquiry after all three Muslim men died. The men were part of a group of British Asians attempting to protect their area from looters after attending Ramadan prayers at a mosque.This Telegraph story explains how Jahan helped quell a race riot from breaking out in the aftermath of his son’s death. A few days later the Guardian reported on rumours that hundreds of Muslim and Sikh youths were plotting revenge against black rioters in Birmingham.
I feel that we should accept easch others religion and not judge people of a different religion.if we do not want riots to start,we cannot talk bad about other peoples religion so that we can maintain religious harmony.
Nigeria Religious Riots.
ReplyDeleteIt is unclear what the trigger was for the latest bout of violence.
At least 200 people have been killed in violence between Christians and Muslims in the Nigerian city of Jos. Houses, mosques and churches have been burnt down and many people were arrested. The current violence has forced at least 3,000 people from their homes.
I think we should all respect each other’s religions so it is fair. And including friends from other religions in games, events would be a good way to make them feel like they WON’T be left out.
It is important to treat all religions the same, as they are all around us and some of them are our neighbours so we should live peacefully with them.
Mathilda Huang, 2/8
The Priestley Riots place from 14 July to 17 July 1791 in Birmingham, England.
ReplyDeleteThe riots started with an attack on a hotel that was the site of a banquet organized in sympathy with the French Revolution. Then, beginning with Priestley's church and home, the rioters attacked or burned four Dissenting chapels, twenty-seven houses, and several businesses.
The British public debate over the French Revolution, or the Revolution Controversy, lasted from 1789 through 1795.[14] Initially many on both sides of the Channel thought the French would follow the pattern of the English Glorious Revolution of a century before, and the Revolution was viewed positively by a large portion of the British public. Most Britons celebrated the storming of the Bastille in 1789, believing that France's absolute monarchy should be replaced by a more democratic form of government. This religious riot involved the British against the French. There is also abit of racism involved in this riot as well.
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During two separate week-long riots in May and July 1844, Philadelphia became the scene of the deadliest conflict over religious and ethnic issues in the nation’s history. Native-born Protestants and Irish Catholics turned the streets of Philadelphia into a war zone. When the fighting had subsided, at least 25 residents lay dead and more than 100 wounded. Dozens of homes and two churches had been burned down. It was provoked by a bitter controversy over Bible reading in the public schools. A steadily growing Catholic community began to ask that Catholic children be excused from the required reading of the Protestant Bible and other forms of worship during the school day. But they made this appeal at the very moment when movements that opposed Irish immigrants and Catholics were rising in popularity. This timing proved to be flammable and revealed the fragile state of religious toleration and the as-yet-unsettled relationship of church and state in Pennsylvania.
ReplyDeleteDuring two separate week-long riots in May and July 1844, Philadelphia became the scene of the deadliest conflict over religious and ethnic issues in the nation’s history. Native-born Protestants and Irish Catholics turned the streets of Philadelphia into a war zone. When the fighting had subsided, at least 25 residents lay dead and more than 100 wounded. Dozens of homes and two churches had been burned down. It was provoked by a bitter controversy over Bible reading in the public schools. A steadily growing Catholic community began to ask that Catholic children be excused from the required reading of the Protestant Bible and other forms of worship during the school day. But they made this appeal at the very moment when movements that opposed Irish immigrants and Catholics were rising in popularity. This timing proved to be flammable and revealed the fragile state of religious toleration and the as-yet-unsettled relationship of church and state in Pennsylvania.
ReplyDeleteGo to malay friends houses for Hari Raya, go to chinese friends houses for CNY, go to eurasian friends houses for christmas and go to indian friends houses for deepavali.
ReplyDelete2/7-09
Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-lingual country. We must learn to respect one another’s religion and culture if we are to live in harmony. Maria Hertogh riots were over a religious issue. Christianity and Muslim were involved. Such riots can disrupt law and order, lead to death of innocent people and even property can be destroyed. Religion is a very sensitive issue and anyone can start the riots.
ReplyDeleteDuring Hari Raya, many muslims invite their non-muslim friends to visit their houses. In this way, we can understand how muslims live, pray and celebrate the New Year. We learn that younger muslims pay their respects to the elders and in return the elders will give them a green packet. During Chinese New Year, the Chinese invite Malays, Indians and Eurasians to their houses. The Chinese elders will give red packets to the children as blessing.
The exchange of visits by people give us better understanding of one another’s religion.
Everyone practice understanding, tolerance and acceptance to each other will lead to a peaceful and harmony country.
Valerie
2/7-06
I have researched about the Nigeria Religious riots. It was kind of mean that they killed a lot of christian people, women and children. they even killed a 4 year old child. I think respect for other people's religion is very important as it would hurt their feelings and thus starts riots. we can practice respect for other people's religious by not making fun of other people's religion, make sure you know the rules of their religion before doing something weird that would make them angry.
ReplyDeletestephanie yoong 28 class:2/8