SINGAPORE, Aug 3 — British trip-hop band Massive Attack said its entire touring group was detained and separately questioned by Singapore police after members displayed a Palestinian flag during a concert here last week.
The band said some members also had their hotel rooms searched and passports temporarily confiscated following its July 29 performance at The Star Theatre.
“Following our performance at the Star Theatre, Singapore on 29th July, we were surprised and disappointed that our entire band was detained by the police, isolated and separately questioned – with some members subjected to hotel room searches & temporary passport confiscation,” the group posted on Instagram yesterday.
In a three-slide post, the group detailed what transpired on the day of its only Singapore concert.
Massive Attack said large sections of the audience spontaneously chanted “Free Palestine” before and after the show, despite the possibility that the expression could breach Singapore’s censorship laws.
The band said it had not expected the display of the Palestinian flag to violate any law, noting that Palestine is recognised as a sovereign state by 157 countries.
“For our part, we did not imagine that merely holding up the flag of a sovereign state recognised by 157 countries (Palestine) would violate any law.”
The group said it was proud to have joined Singaporean fans in what it described as an impromptu expression of solidarity with Palestinians.
“On reflection, we are proud to have made this impromptu expression with our fans in Singapore who clearly felt a moral imperative to show solidarity with the people of Palestine in their ongoing reality of illegal occupation, apartheid & genocide, & we salute their courage in doing so.”
Singapore police later said two band members had been issued stern warnings and barred from re-entering the city-state after they unfurled the Palestinian flag on stage.
Police said the pair had breached rules governing the public display of foreign flags and national emblems without a permit.
The authorities said one of the band members had also shouted “Free Palestine” during the performance.
Singapore police have urged the public, including foreigners, not to “import” foreign politics into the country, warning that such actions could undermine social cohesion and the rule of law.
Singapore’s media regulator is separately investigating possible breaches of the concert’s licensing conditions.
Police said the regulator would not approve future applications for Massive Attack performances in Singapore because of the entry ban.
The band is known for its criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and has frequently used its public profile to support the Palestinian cause.
Massive Attack also thanked Singaporeans for their welcome and urged the government to ratify the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The band ended its statement with a pointed message: “As we were saying ... Free Palestine”.
