Singapore has barred the two core members of British band Massive Attack from returning to the country after they displayed a Palestinian flag and voiced support for the Palestinian cause during a concert in the city-state last week, says the AP.
According to a recent statement from Singapore police, the two men were investigated over their conduct during the July 29 concert, which included unfurling a foreign flag and one member shouting “Free Palestine” on stage. Police said they issued the men stern warnings and blacklisted them from reentering Singapore.
“The police take a serious view of acts which could potentially harm the racial and religious harmony in Singapore and urge the public, including foreigners, to refrain from importing foreign politics as this can undermine our social cohesion and the rule of law,” the statement said.
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Police did not publicly identify the two men, but footage circulated by local media confirmed them to be Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall.
Massive Attack responded in a statement posted to Instagram, saying the band was surprised and disappointed by the decision. The group said large portions of the audience had chanted “Free Palestine” both before the show began and after it ended.
While the band said they hadn’t anticipated that simply holding up the flag would run afoul of any law, they said they were proud to have shared that spontaneous moment with fans in Singapore as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
