Singapore: Teen blogger Amos Yee remanded for mental health assessment
Singapore teen blogger Amos Yee, center, speaks to reporters while leaving the Subordinate Courts after being released on bail, Tuesday. Pic: AP.
Rogue teen blogger Amos Yee has been remanded for two weeks at Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) to assess his suitability for a mandatory treatment order (MTO).
The court heart Tuesday that, according to a psychiatrist, 16-year-old Yee may be suffering from autism spectrum disorder. An MTO could see him undergoing psychiatric treatment for two years, in lieu of incarceration. Yee will be back in court again on July 6.
Yee came to notoriety earlier this year after he posted a lengthy rant on his YouTube page that insulted former Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew and Christians. He also posted a lewd image depicting Lee and former British PM Margaret Thatcher engaging in a sex act.
After a two-day trial last month he was found guilty last month of insulting Christianity and uploading an obscene image online. He was not found guilty of insulting Lee.
Lee’s behavior has divided public opinion, with some saying he deserves to be punished for his behavior while others believe he has a right to free speech. ‘The New Yorker’ went so far as to compare him to Voltaire.
The case has gained international attention this week, with Human Right Watch calling for him to be exonerated and for freedom of speech to be protected.
“Nothing that Amos Yee said or posted should ever have been considered criminal – much less merit incarceration,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. “The dismal state of Singapore’s respect for free expression can be seen in the decision to impose the criminal justice system on outspoken 16-year-olds.”
The United Nations Human Rights Office for South-east Asia (OHCHR) also called for his release Monday, appealing to authorities to “give special consideration to his juvenile status and ensure his treatment is consistent with the best interests of the child”.
