Chapter 7: Case Study of Maria Hertogh Riots (Pg 138-141) Background of Maria Bertha Hertogh Legal battle for Maria s custody Muslims angered How the Riot started Testimonies of by passers What Caused Maria Hertogh Riot? Verdict/Lessons learned Creative Work (Song) Creative work (Poem)
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Chapter 7: Case Study of Maria
Hertogh Riots (Pg 138-141) Background of Maria Bertha Hertogh
Legal battle for Maria’s custody
Muslims angered
How the Riot started
Testimonies of by passers
What Caused Maria Hertogh Riot? Verdict/Lessons learned
Creative Work (Song)
Creative work (Poem)
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Upbringing of Maria Bertha Hertogh Maria Bertha Hertogh was born in a Dutch roman
catholic family living in Java. During WW2, herfather, a soldier, was taken as a Prisoner of war.Their family friend, Aminah Bte Mohammad thentook Maria to Bandung for the girl’s safety.
Maria was brought up as a Muslim and given thename Nadar by Aminah. In 1947, Aminah brought
Maria to Malaysia (then malaya) as the IndonesianWar of Independence started to rage. By 1949when the Hertoghs received news that Maria was inMalaya, Maria could only speak Malay and had been
brought up as a Muslim.
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Legal battle for Maria’s custody
In 1950, the Hertoghs sought toreclaim Maria through theSingapore courts. On 22 Apr 1950,the Court ruled that Maria should
be returned to the Hertoghs. Aminah appealed and on 28 Jul
1950, Maria was returned toAminah. Subsequently, Maria wasmarried to a 22-year-old Malayteacher.
On 13 Nov 1950, the legal battletook place and Maria was returnedto the Hertoghs as they were notinformed when she was taken toBandung. As Maria was subjectedto Dutch laws, which do not permitany girl under 16 to be married,
her Muslim marriage would bemade invalid.
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Legal battle for Maria’s custody
While awaiting to move to the Netherlands, Maria was putin a Christian convent. There was also great mediacoverage by the media.
With pictures of a Muslim girl in a convent, the Muslimswere greatly upset and some even suggested starting a riotif legal methods failed to work. On 11 Dec 50, the AppealCourt sat to hear Maria’s case. Large crowds gathered
outside, eager to know the result of Aminah’s appeal.The judge however threw out Aminah’s appeal after onlyfive minutes. The incident convinced the crowd that thecolonial legal system was biased against Muslims/Malays.
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Maria Hertogh in a convent
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Riot Started
The huge crowds gathered outside the court and the Padangvented their mob fury. Any European or Eurasian in sight wasimmediately attacked. Cars were burnt and overturned. TheMuslim rioters took control of districts like Sultan Mosque,North Bridge Road and Jalan Besar, and set up roadblocks.The riot continued for three days and a 24-hour curfew hadto be imposed for two weeks. British and Malay troops and
the Singapore police had to be all involved to control the Riot. A total of 18 people were killed and 173 injured beforelaw and order was restored.
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Testimonies of by passers“Suddenly, I was in the midst of about 2000 people.They started trying to turn my car over” Dr Buss-Hansen, WHO BCG Expert, here on a campaign
“The woman ran and took refuge in a Eurasian home.They were later escorted away by the police.” Aneyewitness who saw a woman being beaten up.
“I saw them point at me and then they came into thebus and started on my husband. They hit him with astick. I went towards him but they punched me in theface and mouth and then pitched me off the bus.” Mrs.J. W. Davies, who arrived only five days before the
incident took place.
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What causes Maria Hertogh Riot? Insensitive British government for not recognising
Maria’s marriage as she was under-aged and hernatural father’s consent was not obtained. This
upset the Muslim community who felt that Muslimlaw was not respected.
Insensitive decision of the court to put Maria in theconvent instead of a neutral place.
Mass media insensitive in publishing pictures of Mariain the convent.
Malays felt betrayed that the British was taking sideswith the Dutch which sparked off the riot.
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Lessons Learnt We should learn about the importance
of racial and religious understanding &
tolerance to prevent future riots. The Mass Media should be sensitive in
reporting racial and religious issues
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Recommended ReadingThe Nadra Tradegy
This book gives a description
about Maria’s life,background, and how theriot started in a vividdescription. Relevant legaldocuments are included.It
gives testimonies by variousparties and what happenedto Maria (or Nadra) in theend.