Overview
- The band unfurled a Palestinian flag and joined audience chants of “Free Palestine” during a July 29 show at the Star Theatre in Singapore, prompting an official probe.
- Singapore police and the Infocomm Media Development Authority said two founding members were given stern warnings, barred from re‑entering the country, and that future performance applications by the group will not be approved.
- Massive Attack issued a public statement saying the entire touring party was detained, separated for questioning, and that some hotel rooms were searched and passports temporarily confiscated; no public criminal charges have been announced.
- Authorities cited the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act and the Public Order Act and said public displays of foreign emblems can harm the city‑state’s racial and religious harmony without a permit.
- The case highlights a wider clash between artists’ transnational political expression and Singapore’s strict rules on public political symbols, with possible effects on what international acts choose to do onstage and how organisers set licence conditions.