Singapore Bars 2 Massive Attack Members Over Palestinian Flag

Singapore has banned the two core members of the British band Massive Attack from reentering the country after they displayed a Palestinian flag and expressed support for the Palestinian cause during a concert in the city-state last week.

Singapore police said in a recent statement that the two men were investigated over their actions at the July 29 concert, including the unfurling of a foreign flag and one member shouting "Free Palestine" from the stage. They were issued stern warnings and blacklisted from returning to the city-state, police said.

"The police take a serious view of acts which could potentially harm the racial and religious harmony in Singapore and urge the public, including foreigners, to refrain from importing foreign politics as this can undermine our social cohesion and the rule of law," the statement said.

Police did not identify the men involved, but footage shared on local media showed them to be Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, the duo at the center of the group since its formation.

Massive Attack responded in a statement on Instagram, saying the band was "surprised and disappointed" by the decision.

The group said large sections of the auditorium had chanted "Free Palestine" before the start of the show and again at the end of it. The band said it did not expect that merely holding up the flag would violate any law, but that its members were proud to have made the "impromptu expression" with their fans in Singapore to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

The band urged the Singapore government to allow its citizens "the expressions of conscience without fear of state persecution."

Singapore, a multiethnic and multireligious society, regulates public assembly and political expression tightly, and authorities have repeatedly warned foreigners against bringing outside political causes into the country. Police did not say how long the ban would remain in effect.