COMMUNITY GROUPS SPEAK OUT AGAINST INCIDENT
On Thursday, various community groups spoke out against the incident.
Dr Janil Puthucheary, chairman of OnePeople.sg, a ground-up advocacy body for inter-racial and inter-religious understanding in Singapore, said in a Facebook post that the group is “deeply concerned” by the incident.
“Places of worship must always remain safe spaces for prayer, reflection, and community life. Acts that threaten the peace and mutual respect we cherish have no place in our society. Singapore’s strength lies in its diversity.
He added that Singapore’s resilience as a nation depends on its ability to embrace differences and stand together in times of challenge.
“We stand with our Muslim community, and with all faith communities, to uphold the values of peace, mutual respect, and harmony,” he said.
The Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) expressed “deep concern” over what happened.
“Singapore’s mosques, temples, churches, and other places of worship are sanctuaries for many. They must continue to be safe, peaceful spaces for all who seek solace, reflection, and communal worship.”
IRO added that it takes a strong stand against actions that threaten the peace and safety of such places of worship and undermine religious harmony.
“An act against one religion is an act against all religions. We stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters and pray for continued peace and harmony in our multicultural society.”
Harmony Circles, a platform that promotes racial and religious harmony, said that such an act has no place in Singapore’s diverse society.
“Our thoughts are with the mosque management, the mosque staff who required medical attention and our Muslim community,” said Harmony Circle’s coordinating council in a Facebook post, adding that Serangoon Harmony Circle is in touch with the mosque leaders.
“This incident also reinforces the importance of standing together as one community. Instead of letting fear and division, let us choose solidarity — to support one another, to remain calm, and strengthen the bonds of trust that underpin our diverse society.”
