British band Massive Attack says members were detained by Singapore police over Palestinian flag at concert
Members of the British band Massive Attack were detained and questioned by Singaporean police after displaying a Palestinian flag during a concert. The band expressed disappointment over the incident, while local authorities cited concerns regarding racial and religious harmony in the diverse city-state.
Why it matters
This event underscores the strict regulations surrounding political expression and foreign emblems in Singapore, highlighting the tension between global activism and local legal frameworks.
SINGAPORE — The British band Massive Attack said its members were detained by Singapore police and “isolated and separately questioned” after two performers raised a Palestinian flag at their concert in the city-state last Wednesday. In a statement posted on Instagram on Sunday, the band said they were “surprised and disappointed” that the entire band was detained and questioned. Several members had their hotel rooms searched and passports temporarily confiscated, the post said. Singapore police did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters regarding the band’s statement. The trip-hop band has two members, Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall, both British nationals, who unfurled the flag and held it up as the audience cheered “Free Palestine,” a Reuters witness said.
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