Atheist blogger from Singapore accused of 'hate speech' granted asylum in US (drugs, attorney)

[uggabugga]

interesting case. i would like to hear more details about his alleged persecution though.

When Singapore’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away in 2015, 16-year-old Amos Yee made an obscenity-filled YouTube video denouncing the late leader as a “tyrant.” That and other postings earned him a four-week jail sentence for “wounding religious feelings and obscenity.” Not long after, he earned another six-week sentence for derogatory comments on Islam and Christianity.

On Friday, US Immigration Judge Samuel B. Cole granted asylum to Mr. Yee, now 18, who flew to Chicago in December. “His prosecution, detention, and general maltreatment at the hands of the Singapore authorities constitute persecution,” Judge Cole ruled. “Yee is a young political dissident, and his request for asylum is granted.”
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Cases like Amos’s are “actually quite common,” explains attorney Sandra Grossman, who represented Yee. “Different countries ... prosecute speech that is considered critical of the government, and that's exactly what happened in Amos's case.”
With asylum grant, did the US just reward hate speech? - CSMonitor.com

[Dd714]

Interesting case. It's not about "hate speech" really but freedom of speech. Yeah you can't do that in Singapore - two sensitive issues in that city-state are 1.) Race relations (since they have so many "races" living together. A note here - Singapore defines race as really country identity, not the same as us - People from India are a "race", people from China are a "race". Anyone from the west - black or white - is a "race".), 2.) Insulting the government. Yes insulting the government there is a crime. I suspect item #2 is what irks the Singaporean authorities.

I travel to Singapore occasionally, it really is unique - beautiful, crime free, clean; but you should not deny the authoritative aspect of their country and laws. I've talked to people there - they do not understand the American concept of free speach at all. There is an active Asian forum here with some Singaporean's that post, along with ex-pats. Why don't you ask them for there opinion?

[uggabugga]

Originally Posted by Dd714

Interesting case. It's not about "hate speech" really but freedom of speech. Yeah you can't do that in Singapore - two sensitive issues in that city-state are 1.) Race relations (since they have so many "races" living together. A note here - Singapore defines race as really country identity, not the same as us - People from India are a "race", people from China are a "race". Anyone from the west - black or white - is a "race".), 2.) Insulting the government. Yes insulting the government there is a crime. I suspect item #2 is what irks the Singaporean authorities.

I travel to Singapore occasionally, it really is unique - beautiful, crime free, clean; but you should not deny the authoritative aspect of their country and laws. I've talked to people there - they do not understand the American concept of free speach at all. There is an active Asian forum here with some Singaporean's that post, along with ex-pats. Why don't you ask them for there opinion?

hmm, I may do that. I agree that free speech is a hard concept for singaporeans to grasp.
years ago I showed a friend from there a catalog by a now-defunct company called Loompanics unlimited that sold books on how to be a hit man, how to manufacture drugs, pick locks, overthrow governments- you name it.
he absolutely refused to believe you could freely order such books, even in America.

of course with the advent of the internet, loompanics is long dead and gone.

[Freak80]

Sounds good to me. I welcome him.