Singapore's teen blogger and YouTuber Amos Yee was charged with posting obscenities in his blog and defaming Christianity.
According to latest reports, a man slapped the 16-year-old in the face as he was waiting for a pre-trial session, giving the teen a bruised eye and cheek. There is now a public debate about violence and tolerance for diverse opinions in Singapore.
Dr. Chee Soon Juan, secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said that "name-calling and personal destruction" was not the answer to legal procedures."
"It is time to stop the practice of "name-calling and personal destruction" in Singapore's political landscape," Dr. Juan said in an online report by the Online Citizen, referring to the assaulty by a 49-year old on the 16-year-old boy YouTuber.
Critics said that the law has been applied inappropriately, Asian Correspondent reported.The most serious charge faced by the new-gen blogger is inflammatory remarks against Christianity and not defamation of Singapore's supreme leader and founder, Lee Kuan Yew.
A statement released by the Singaporre Kindness Movement said, "Within the last month, Amos Yee has become the latest in a string of individuals who have exhibited insensitivity and poor judgement with their social media postings.
Amos Yee is currently in remand breaking for breaking conditions of his bail. He was offered a bail of $20,000, which was met by a Christian social worker after the prominent YouTuber and blogger asked for donations through paypal. However, Amos Yee began to write on his blog and post them despite a court-warning not to do so while the trial takes place.
The Media Literacy Council and the Singapore Kindness Movement have objected to violence against You Tuber Amos Lee.
"Tasteless videos and posts are no excuse for responding with vindictive attacks and threats of unspeakable violence. There is a difference between objecting, however strongly, to something that offends us, and meting out an eye for an eye, or worse," the SKM said.
"When emotions get the better of us, we lose the sensibility to know where to draw the line. Some of us have gone well beyond the bounds of decency, in many cases being more or objection to an offence, and still do so graciously," SKM added.
"We must, if we want to live as a society that is mature in dealing with things we don't like or agree with," Dr. Chee said.
