Both Men Were Banned From Re-entering Singapore, and Future Performance Applications Would Not Be Approved

Massive Attack have described being banned from Singapore as a “surreal experience” after unfurling a Palestinian flag during their concert at the Star Theatre on 29 July. The English trip-hop group, whose lineup includes Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, said they were “proud to have made this impromptu expression with our fans in Singapore, where displaying foreign flags without a permit is illegal. In an Instagram statement on Sunday, the band said they were “surprised and disappointed” after being detained, isolated, and questioned by police, with some members subjected to hotel room searches and temporary passport confiscation.

They noted that large sections of the audience led chants of “Free Palestine” before and after the show, and that they did not imagine holding the flag of a state recognised by 157 countries would violate any law. The statement added: “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 and genocide, and we salute their courage in doing so. The band called the experience “a reminder of the importance of defending universal human rights and freedom of expression, wherever those rights are threatened, and noted that peaceful protesters in the UK have been arrested under terrorism laws for holding handwritten signs.

They urged Singapore to ratify the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and allow citizens to express conscience without fear of prosecution, ending with “As we were saying … Free Palestine. On Saturday, Singapore police and the Infocomm Media Development Authority said they had investigated Del Naja and Marshall for “their actions of support for a political cause and unfurling of a foreign flag, issuing “stern warnings” under the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act and the Public Order Act. Both men were banned from re-entering Singapore, and future performance applications would not be approved.

Authorities said they “take a serious view of acts which could potentially harm the racial and religious harmony in Singapore” and urged the public to refrain from importing foreign politics. Del Naja was among 500 people arrested in April during a London demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action. Singapore police have been contacted for comment.”””””