Singapore bans Massive Attack after band unfurls Palestinian flag and chants 'Free Palestine' at concert
Two members unfurled a Palestinian flag and one chanted 'Free Palestine' during Wednesday's concert, prompting police to issue stern warnings and a lifetime performance ban.
The concert incident
On Wednesday 29 July, during a performance at The Star Theatre, two members of Massive Attack unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage. One shouted "Free Palestine", and a video circulating online showed the audience cheering loudly. The band was on a world tour, with the Singapore date being its first stop in the country.
Singapore's strict laws on public symbols
Singapore bans the open display of foreign national emblems without a permit and treats politically charged acts at public events as a threat to social harmony. The city-state's resident population is 74 % Chinese, 13.6 % Malay and 9 % Indian, with about 15 % Muslim. The Israel-Hamas war has heightened those sensitivities. Earlier this year, several citizens were fined for organising an unauthorised pro-Palestinian rally, and in 2023 the Ministry of Home Affairs advised against wearing or displaying items linked to the conflict.
The peace and harmony between different ethnicities and religions in Singapore must not be taken for granted, and we must not allow events taking place externally to affect this peace and harmony we enjoy in Singapore.
Police action and entry ban
After an investigation and consultation with state prosecutors, police on Friday 31 July administered stern warnings to the two unnamed members and barred them from re-entering the city-state. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore's media regulator, said it would not approve any future applications for the band to perform in the country. The concert promoter did not respond to a request for comment from AFP, and the band itself had not issued a public statement as of Saturday.
- Concert at The Star Theatre; two members unfurl Palestinian flag, one shouts 'Free Palestine'
- Police issue stern warnings and entry ban; IMDA says no future performances will be approved
The band and its activism
Massive Attack, formed in Bristol in 1988, has a long history of political engagement. Frontman Robert Del Naja was among more than 200 people arrested in April at a protest in London's Trafalgar Square supporting Palestine Action, a group banned by British authorities. The band is currently on an international tour; its next scheduled concert is in Seoul. The two members who held the flag have not been publicly identified by the authorities.
