British band Massive Attack has been banned from Singapore after displaying a Palestinian flag and chanting “Free Palestine” during a concert on Wednesday. According to Al Jazeera, band members were also held by authorities following the incident. The group said it was proud of what it called an “impromptu expression” of support for Palestine.
The action took place at a gig where the two-man band was joined by audience members in the display. Singaporean authorities acted under the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, which makes it illegal to display emblems of non-Singaporean countries.
The ban has sparked debate in the city state, the South China Morning Post reports. Some residents lament what they see as overly strict laws, while others argue that foreigners should comply with local regulations. The incident highlights tensions between artistic freedom and Singapore’s strict rules on political expression. Neither report indicated how long the ban would last or whether the band members face further penalties.