A teenager in Singapore is facing charges for posting a video on YouTube celebrating the death of Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew and ranting against Christianity.
In his 8-minute video entitled 'Lee Kuan Yew is finally dead!', 16 year old Amos Yee reportedly ranted against the founder of Singapore and Jesus Christ, saying they were both "power-hungry and malicious but deceive others into thinking they are both compassionate and kind."
"Lee Kuan Yew was a horrible person, because everyone is scared. Everyone is afraid if they say something like that, they might get into trouble," the teenager said in the video that was viewed thousands of times before it was finally taken down.
The video further called the late statesman a dictator who duped the world into believing he was a champion of democracy and challenged Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to sue him for his statements.
According to police, they received more than 20 reports about the video between March 27 and 29, leading them to arrest the teenager on the same day as Lee Kuan Yew's state funeral last Sunday.
"Police take a stern view of acts that could threaten religious harmony in Singapore. Any person who uploads offensive content online with (the) deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law," Deputy Commissioner of Police Investigations & Intelligence Tan Chye Hee said in a statement.
The teenager is currently facing charges of harassment, insulting the religious and racial feelings of another person, and the circulation of an "obscene representation." If proven guilty, he may be fined up to S$5,000 for the harassment charge and jail time for his other offenses.
Bail was set at S$20,000, along with the condition that Yee would not upload or distribute any comment or content online while his case is being heard.
Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned Yee's arrest as a reflection of the restrictive environment journalists in Singapore have to work in and called on authorities to release the teenager immediately.
"We call on authorities to release Amos Yee immediately and to undertake reform of Singapore's outdated laws restricting the media," Bob Dietz, Asia programme director of the CJD said.
Yee also got some unexpected support from Christians in Singapore.
Wally Tham, who launched a petition entitled Release Amos Yee from your Anger, said that while Christians are thankful to the government for upholding their rights, they have already forgiven the teenager and want him to be set free.
"We are not offended by Amos Yee's statements. His opinions about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ neither threaten our faith nor diminish our love for Him. Please release Amos Yee from your anger. We forgive him and desire he have a full life of contribution to his community ahead of him," the petition stated.
The appeal has so far garnered 2,905 signatures.
