Singapore has barred British trip-hop band Massive Attack from performing again after an investigation found two members displayed a Palestinian flag during a concert, police announced late Friday. The city-state, known for its strict public speech and assembly laws, prohibits the open display of foreign flags, national emblems, or banners without a permit.
Incident at Concert
During a concert on Wednesday, two band members unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage, drawing loud, prolonged cheers from the audience, as shown in a video circulating online. Police, in a statement, said they administered “stern warnings to both men” and barred them from re-entering Singapore. The media regulator also investigated possible breaches of licensing conditions.
“Notwithstanding the event organiser’s prior acknowledgment of the licence conditions, during the performance, two band members held a foreign flag on stage, and one of them also shouted ‘Free Palestine’,” police said. The media regulator “will not grant any future application for performances by the band in Singapore in view of the entry ban”.
Band's Activism
Massive Attack is known for its criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and has used its platform to support the Palestinian cause. In April, frontman Robert Del Naja was among more than 200 people arrested at a protest in London’s Trafalgar Square in support of Palestine Action, an activist group banned by British authorities.
Singapore's Stance
Singapore is a major concert hub for south-east Asia, having hosted multi-night performances by Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars. Police urged the public, including foreigners, “to refrain from importing foreign politics as this can undermine our social cohesion and the rule of law”. The concert promoter had not responded to an AFP request for comment at time of publication, and the band had not issued a public comment.
