Police 'aware' of pick-up artist Daryush Valizadeh's event plans in Singapore

The police are "aware" of the online posting by self-proclaimed American "pick-up artist" Daryush Valizadeh, also known as Roosh V, they said on Thursday (Feb 4).

According to Mr Valizadeh's website, which caters to "heterosexual and masculine men", Singapore was among the listed countries to hold a gathering for "like-minded men in their cities". He has since cancelled the event as he "can no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men" who was to attend on Feb 6.

Responding to Channel NewsAsia's query, the police reiterated that getting involved in such a public assembly without a permit is punishable under the Public Order Act.

OPPONENTS VOICE OUT ONLINE

Meanwhile, online petitions have started against the blogger, including one from Singapore. Started by 18-year-old Ryan Lim on Wednesday, it has since received more than 120 signatures.

The recent high-school graduate told Channel NewsAsia that the petition was created after he had read an article about the meetup. “I was very disturbed about what I read,” he said. “I just felt the need to garner momentum against this movement or else it's just going to be something that people bash on the Internet while not doing anything about it.”

Mr Lim also said the petition aims to stop Roosh V and his following “from promoting their hateful violent views in the country as well as empower ourselves to take a stand against the chauvinistic and sexist advocates of rape”.
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In 2014, another self-proclaimed pick-up artist, Julien Blanc, made headlines when his visa was revoked in Australia. He was also banned from visiting Singapore to hold his seminars, which advises men to use highly abusive techniques when dating women.