Two members of the British trip-hop band Massive Attack have been issued stern warnings and barred from re-entering Singapore following a concert performance on July 29. During the show at The Star Theatre, the two musicians unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage, with one member also shouting "Free Palestine." The incident prompted an immediate investigation by the Singapore Police Force and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Singapore maintains strict laws regarding public speech and assembly, including the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, which prohibits the public display of foreign flags or national emblems without a permit. Authorities stated that the band members’ actions constituted a breach of these regulations and violated specific licensing conditions for the concert, which explicitly forbade the display of flags in support of any political causes.
Following the investigation and consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the police issued formal warnings to the two individuals involved. In addition to the entry ban for the two musicians, the IMDA announced that it will not approve any future applications for the band to perform in the country. The regulator is currently conducting further investigations into potential licensing breaches by the event organizers.
Singaporean authorities have consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining social cohesion in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. Officials have previously advised against the public display of materials related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, citing the potential for such displays to disrupt domestic racial and religious harmony. The government maintains that it is necessary to prevent the importation of foreign political tensions to protect local stability.
As of now, the band has not issued a public statement regarding the ban. The concert in Singapore was the only scheduled date for the group in the country on their current tour. Future performances by the collective in Singapore remain effectively blocked as the government continues to review the event's compliance with local regulations.