Massive Attack has issued a statement describing their detention and interrogation by Singapore police following a concert in the country. The British trip-hop band, whose current lineup includes Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, performed at the Star theatre on Wednesday before the incident occurred.
According to the band's statement posted on Instagram, members were isolated from one another and questioned separately by police. The detention process included hotel room searches for some band members and the temporary confiscation of their passports.
The police action followed the band's display of a Palestinian flag during their performance. Singapore has strict regulations prohibiting the public display of all foreign flags. Massive Attack expressed surprise at the consequences of their actions, stating they did not anticipate that holding up the flag of a sovereign state would breach any law.
The band emphasized that the Palestinian flag represents a nation recognized by 157 countries internationally. In their statement, they called the experience "surreal" and said they were "surprised and disappointed" by their treatment. They expressed pride in making what they described as an "impromptu expression" with their fans in Singapore.
This incident has resulted in Massive Attack being banned from performing in the country. The band has previously explained their reasoning for the flag display, suggesting they were unaware it would violate Singapore's regulations on foreign flag presentations. They appeared to view the gesture as a straightforward political statement rather than a breach of local law.
The detention represents an escalation of Singapore's response to the band's actions during the concert. Rather than simply preventing future performances, authorities took the step of detaining band members for questioning, conducting searches, and confiscating travel documents, however temporarily.
The band's statement suggests frustration with what they perceive as an overreaction to displaying the flag of an internationally recognized state. By highlighting that 157 countries recognize Palestine, Massive Attack appears to be making the point that their action was not inherently transgressive or inflammatory by international standards.
The incident highlights the tensions between international norms regarding political expression and Singapore's strict local laws governing public displays. For Massive Attack, the experience serves as a stark reminder of the different regulatory environments they encounter when touring internationally. What might be considered routine political expression in many countries can result in serious consequences elsewhere.
The band has not indicated whether they plan to appeal the ban or attempt to perform in Singapore again in the future.