Riots Erupt in Singapore, 18 Killed Over Custody Battle for Cimahi-Born Girl

Singapore was once engulfed in one of the bloodiest riots in its modern history, stemming from a custody battle over a girl born in Cimahi, West Java. The incident, which occurred in December 1950, claimed at least 18 lives, injured 173 people, and triggered extensive damage across the city. The dispute originated from the fight for custody of Maria Hertogh, a girl of Dutch descent born in Cimahi in 1937. After Japan occupied the Dutch East Indies during World War II, Maria’s father was detained, whilst her mother, Adelaine, entrusted her daughter to a Malay woman named Aminah as she was unable to care for her alone. Maria grew up as a Muslim, was dressed in Malay clothing, taught the Malay language, and given the Muslim name Naadra Maarof. After the war ended in 1945, Aminah took Maria to Singapore without her biological mother’s knowledge. Meanwhile, Adelaine returned to the Netherlands and spent years searching for her daughter until she finally located her in Singapore. Adelaine then sought the help of the British colonial government to regain custody of Maria, even offering US$500 as reimbursement for care expenses. However, Aminah refused to surrender Maria. For her part, Maria, then 13 years old, chose to remain with the Malay-Muslim family and had even married a Malay-Muslim man. The dispute proceeded through the courts up to the High Court of Singapore. On 11 December 1950, the judge ruled that Maria must be returned to her biological mother in the Netherlands. The verdict sparked anger among parts of the Malay-Muslim community, who viewed the decision as forcibly dissolving Maria’s marriage. Tensions escalated further after the media published a photo of Maria in a church setting alongside Christian symbols. Amidst growing anti-colonial sentiment, the photo fuelled perceptions that Maria was being forced to abandon Islam. A protest involving more than 3,000 Muslims of Indian, Pakistani, and Malay descent against the court’s ruling soon turned into a mass riot. Thousands of rioters damaged public facilities, government offices, and vehicles belonging to Europeans. Police attempted to disperse the crowd with warning shots, tightened security, and deployed armoured vehicles, but the situation spiralled out of control. According to the National Library of Singapore, the riots resulted in 72 cars being burnt, 119 other vehicles damaged, and property destruction valued at approximately US$20,000. At least 18 people were killed and 173 others injured before the government imposed a curfew and deployed armed forces to restore order. The Maria Hertogh case is remembered to this day as one of the most violent social and religious conflicts in Singapore’s history.