Maria Hertogh Riots

- What caused the riots?

- What were the consequences?
Let’s recall the
storyline…

Maria Hertogh was

separated from her
Dutch parents during
the Japanese
Occupation
She was raised a
Muslim under the care
of Che Aminah.
After the war, Maria’s
natural parents
Maria was put in a
convent during the
trial.

Press reports on
the Maria Hertogh
trials made people
even more
emotional,
henceforth
worsening the
issue.
More Press Reports…

December 3, 1950:
The Sunday Times reproduced 2 photographs of
Maria crying
in the convent.

December 4, 1950:
The Singapore Standard reproduced a
photograph of Maria smiling happily with her
Dutch mother and a friend.
December 5, 1950:
The Straits Times showed Maria playing
dominoes with her biological mother and her
friend… Maria was also shown in The Singapore
Standard kneeling before a statue of the Virgin
Mary.

December 7, 1950:
Utusan Melayu reproduced 3 photographs of
Maria weeping and one showing her talking very
seriously to 2 nuns. One article even said the
she was miserable and wanted news of Che
Aminah.
Karim Ghani started the
Nadra Action
Committee. He saw the
trial as a portrayal of
injustices against the
Muslims - truly an act of
disrespect towards the
Muslim law and culture.

He wrote in the
newspaper, “Dawn”,
henceforth spreading
the news around and
instill anger among
readers against the
Europeans.
Che Aminah appealed for
Judge Brown and the
colonial authorities to allow
Maria to be under her care.
Maria was returned to Che
Aminah for a short while.
During that time, Maria was
married to Mansoor.
However Maria returned to
her natural parents soon
after.
This angered Maria’s natural
parents, making the issue
The Colonial authorities
were insensitive to the
Malays. They ignored
the Muslim laws and
refused to acknowledge
Maria’s marriage

Maria’s natural parents

eventually won the
case.
But many were unhappy
with the verdict. Riots
broke out eventually.
 Instructions
- Watch the video.
- Look out for the consequences of the
riots.
 Other ethnic conflicts…
USA: Civil Rights Movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiAmerican_Civ
il_Rights_Movement_(1955-1968)

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/U
SAcivilrights.htm