Maria Hertogh Riots

Maria Hertogh Riots

• Born in Java in 1937 to Dutch Catholic parents

• Parents were imprisoned during the Japanese Occupation

Maria Hertogh Riots

• Maria was taken care care by a Malay woman, Che Aminah and her husband.

• They brought her up as a Muslim and named her Nadra.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• 1949 – Maria’s mother, Adeline Hertogh wants her daughter back.

• The case was brought to the High Court in Singapore.

• Maria Hertogh was placed in the Social Welfare Department.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• May 1950 – the court ruled that Maria be returned to her natural parents.

• Che Aminah sent an appeal to change the court decision.

• Two months later, Maria was ruled by court to be given back to Che Aminah

Maria Hertogh Riots

• Under Che Aminah’s care, Maria was married to a Malay teacher.

• She was only 13 years old.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• November 1950, the battle for custody continued.

• The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents.

• The Dutch law did not recognize Maria’s marriage as she was under-aged and was not given consent by her natural father.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• This upset the Muslim community as they felt that Muslim law was not respected.

• Meanwhile, the court placed Maria in a Catholic convent in Thomson Road.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• Che Aminah appealed again for the custody of Maria Hertogh.

• 11 December 1950 – the court rejected the appeal within 5 minutes.

• The large crowd that gathered to hear the verdict at Padang started to riot.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• WHY?– Felt betrayed as they thought the British were taking

sides with the Dutch

• WHAT HAPPENED?– Any European and Eurasian in sight was attacked.– Cars were overturned and burnt– Serious rioting happened around the area of Sultan

Mosque, North Bridge and Jalan Besar Roads.

Maria Hertogh Riots

• The riots continued for 3 days and a curfew was imposed for two weeks.

• Troops were called in to help maintain law and order.

• The situation was under control by the 3rd day.

About 18 people were killed and 173 were injured during the riot