The British band Massive Attack said its members were detained by Singapore police and 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.
Singapore police said the band’s actions could potentially harm the racial and religious harmony in Singapore and that two band members were issued with stern warnings and barred from re-entering Singapore.
The band did not say who among the members were detained and whose rooms were searched or passports confiscated. The band were performing with a live backing band and guest vocalists, including Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins.
Freedom of Expression
The band stated that they did not imagine that merely holding up the flag of a sovereign state recognised by 157 countries would violate any law. They added that the experience was a reminder of the importance of defending universal human rights and freedom of expression wherever those rights are threatened.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
