s 17F Offence of inciting hatred, ill-will, etc.
17F.—(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person knowingly engages in conduct that incites feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, a group in Singapore (called in this subsection a target group); (b) the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity; (c) the person does so knowing that feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, the target group is likely to occur; and (d) the person is a religious leader when the person engages in the conduct. (2) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person knowingly engages in conduct that —(i) insults the religion or religious belief or activity of another person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person); or (ii) wounds the religious feelings of a person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person) who holds a religious belief or view; (b) the target person is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity; (c) the person does so knowing that the religion or religious belief or activity of the target person is likely to be insulted or the religious feelings of the target person are likely to be wounded; and (d) the person is a religious leader when the person engages in the conduct. (3) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person knowingly engages in conduct that incites feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, a group in Singapore (called in this subsection a target group); (b) the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity; (c) the person does so knowing that feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, the target group is likely to occur; and (d) the feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, the target group would threaten the public peace or public order in Singapore or any part of Singapore. (4) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person knowingly engages in conduct that —(i) insults the religion or religious belief or activity of another person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person); or (ii) wounds the religious feelings of a person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person) who holds a religious belief or view; (b) the target person is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity; (c) the person does so knowing that the religion or religious belief or activity of the target person is likely to be insulted or the religious feelings of the target person are likely to be wounded; and (d) the insult or wounding mentioned in paragraph (c) (as the case may be) would threaten the public peace or public order in Singapore or any part of Singapore. (5) In subsection (1)(b), (2), (3)(b), (4) or (10)(b), “religious belief or activity” means —(a) holding a religious belief or view; or (b) engaging in religious activity. (6) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine, or to both. (7) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) or (2), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that —(a) the conduct the accused engaged in was domestic in nature, having regard to —(i) the number of persons who are likely to perceive the conduct; (ii) the relationships between those persons, and between the accused and those persons; and (iii) all other relevant circumstances; (b) the accused reasonably expected that the conduct would only be perceived by the parties to the conduct; and (c) in the case of an offence under subsection (2) — the accused could not reasonably have expected that the conduct would be perceived by the target person.[Act 10 of 2025 wef 15/09/2026] (8) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) or (4), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that —(a) the conduct the accused engaged in was private or domestic in nature, having regard to —(i) the number of persons who are likely to perceive the conduct; (ii) the relationships between those persons, and between the accused and those persons; and (iii) all other relevant circumstances; (b) the accused reasonably expected that the conduct would only be perceived by the parties to the conduct; and (c) in the case of an offence under subsection (4) — the accused could not reasonably have expected that the conduct would be perceived by the target person.[Act 10 of 2025 wef 15/09/2026] (9) However, subsections (7) and (8) do not apply in relation to conduct in any circumstances in which the parties to the conduct ought reasonably to expect that it may be heard or seen by someone else. (10) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4), it is also a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused was pointing out in good faith any matters that —(a) are producing or have a tendency to produce feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups;[Act 10 of 2025 wef 15/09/2026] (aa) are causing or have a tendency to cause contempt for or ridicule of a religious group; or[Act 10 of 2025 wef 15/09/2026] (b) are insulting the religion or religious belief or activity or wounding the religious feelings of a person or persons distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity, in order to bring about a removal of those matters. [Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]