Singapore Bans Band Massive Attack for Displaying Palestinian Flag

The British group was punished under a policy of racial harmony that has long been criticized as stifling free speech in the city-state. The British band Massive Attack’s position on Palestine has never been in doubt. In recent years, they have called for a cease-fire in Gaza and often declared solidarity with Palestinians at concerts. In April, a member was arrested at a protest in London for supporting a pro-Palestinian group. So it was no surprise that at a concert in Singapore last week, the band unfurled a Palestinian flag.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open New York Times World

Scoop News DeskSingapore · Published Monday, August 3, 2026 at 10:35 AM UTCUpdated Monday, August 3, 2026 at 10:49 AM UTC

Scoop News reporting summary

The text below was supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app. Third-party reporting is attributed in the source panel.

Some had their hotel rooms searched and their passports temporarily confiscated, the statement said, a sequence of events that left them “surprised and disappointed.” The post added that large sections of the crowd had “organically” been leading chants of “Free Palestine” before the show, where group members Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall later waved a Palestinian flag.