Massive Attack Banned From Future Singapore Performances After Palestinian Flag Incident

Kathmandu. British trip-hop band 'Massive Attack' has been banned from performing in Singapore in the future after it was confirmed that a Palestinian flag was displayed during a concert, the police said. According to a statement issued by the police on Friday, two members of the band who displayed the Palestinian flag on stage during the concert held on Wednesday were given a strict warning. They have also been banned from re-entering Singapore. However, their names have not been disclosed. Singapore, known for its strict laws on public assembly and expression, prohibits the public display of foreign flags, national symbols, or banners without government permission. The police launched an investigation after a video that went viral on social media showed two members of the band waving a Palestinian flag on stage, with one of them shouting 'Free Palestine'. After completing the investigation and consulting with the public prosecutor, the police said that both members were warned and banned from entering Singapore. Singapore's media regulator has also stated that it is conducting a separate investigation into whether the concert organizers may have violated the terms of their license. According to the police, although the organizers accepted all the terms of the license, the band members displayed a foreign flag during the program. Based on this, it has been decided not to allow the band to perform in Singapore in the future. The concert organizers have not immediately responded to AFP's request for comment. 'Massive Attack', which has been critical of Israel's military action in Gaza, is known for being a band that openly voices support for the Palestinian side. In April, band frontman Robert Del Naja was among more than 200 people arrested at a demonstration in London's Trafalgar Square in support of the banned activist group 'Palestine Action' in Britain. Singapore, known as a major concert destination in Southeast Asia, has recently hosted performances by international artists such as Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars. The police have urged everyone, including foreign nationals, not to bring foreign political issues into Singapore, warning that it could affect social harmony and the rule of law.