Singapore bans 2 members of Brit band Massive Attack for waving Palestinian flag at concert

Singapore barred two members of British band Massive Attack from re-entering the country after they displayed a Palestinian flag at a concert on July 29, 2026. Authorities issued stern warnings and investigated the band for supporting a political cause and unfurling a foreign flag. The Infocomm Media Development Authority is probing possible license breaches. Singapore prohibits public display of foreign emblems without a permit, with heightened sensitivity due to the Gaza war and its Muslim population.

Singapore barred two members of British band Massive Attack from re-entering the country after they displayed a Palestinian flag at the end of their concert on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The band members were issued stern warnings, and authorities investigated them for 'actions of support for a political cause and unfurling of a foreign flag.' The Infocomm Media Development Authority is also investigating a possible breach of license conditions and will take 'necessary action' when investigations are complete. Singapore does not allow the public display of foreign national emblems without a permit or exemption. The Palestinian flag is especially sensitive given the war in Gaza and Singapore's Muslim population, which is around 15% of the resident population. In 2023, Singapore's home affairs ministry advised against public display of articles related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, citing heightened sensitivities and the need to preserve racial and religious harmony. Massive Attack, formed in Bristol in 1988, is known for outspoken political stances, with concert videos highlighting conflicts from the US-Israeli war on Iran to Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine. The band has been outspoken in anti-Israel politics, including joining an initiative to block its music in Israel and remove songs from Spotify over investments in a European defense start-up. Neither the concert organizer Lushington nor the band responded to requests for comment. This is not the first time a UK-based band faced legal action over anti-Israel activism. A member of Northern Ireland's Kneecap faced a terrorism charge over displaying a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 concert, though the case was dismissed in March. Canada barred Kneecap last year over alleged support for Hezbollah and Hamas.