Some Members Had Their Hotel Rooms Searched and Passports Temporarily Confiscated

Massive Attack have broken their silence after two band members were barred from Singapore for displaying the Palestinian flag during a concert. In an Instagram post on Sunday, the group said they were "surprised and disappointed" that the entire band was detained by police, isolated, and separately questioned after their July 29 performance at the Star Theatre. Some members had their hotel rooms searched and passports temporarily confiscated.

The band noted that before they took the stage and again at the end of the show, large sections of the audience led chants of "Free Palestine, seemingly aware that such spontaneous expression could breach the government's censorship laws. "We did not imagine that merely holding up the flag of a sovereign state recognized by 157 countries would violate any law, they wrote. The group expressed pride in the impromptu display of solidarity with fans in Singapore, saluting their courage amid what they described as "illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide.

They also criticized the "continued inaction of the 'international community'" and called the experience a reminder of the importance of defending universal human rights and freedom of expression, including in the UK, where peaceful protesters have been arrested under terrorism laws for holding handwritten signs. The post thanked the people of Singapore for their welcome and urged the government to ratify the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Local authorities had earlier confirmed a probe into the band for waving the flag and leading the chant. On Saturday, they announced that Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall were banned from re-entering Singapore, with future performance applications denied."