The British police investigates a series of proclamations against Israel launched from the stage during the concerts in the Punk Bob Vylan duo and the Irio Kneecap trio, which asked, among other things,. Avon and Somerset English County agents, where the contest is celebrated, indicated in X (the old Twitter social network) that analyze images of these actions, which took place on Saturday, to determine whether crimes that require criminal investigation were committed.
The slogans raised the criticisms of the Israel Embassy in London, while British politicians asked for explanations to the public chain BBC, which broadcast the event. During his speech at the West Holts stage, Bob Vylan encouraged the public to chant “Free, Free Palestine” (Freedom for Palestine) and “Death, Death to the IDF” (death of the Israeli army).
We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.
Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice)
For his part, Kneecap, one of whose members he faces a terrorism charge for wielding in 2023 an teaching of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, began his show attacking against the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, who had considered his presence in the festival “inappropriate”. Liam Iog or Hannaidh (Mo Chara), who is cited before justice on August 20, appeared with a Palestinian handkerchief, while his colleague JJ or Dochartaight (DJ Provai) wore his usual balaclavas with the three colors of the Irish flag and a shirt in support of Palestine Action, a group that the Labor Government wants to illegalize.
Naoise or Cairellain, an artistic name Moglai BAP, urged “inciting a riot outside the courts” in support of his partner, although later he clarified that “there will be no riots, only love and support, and support for Palestine.” The Minister of Health, Wes Streeting, described today the songs of “horrible” and said that both the BBC and the festival “have questions to answer” for having allowed their dissemination, although he acknowledged that he does not know if, logistically, it could have been avoided. He also urged the Embassy of Israel, who denounced what he considers anti -Semitism in social networks, to “deal with the violence of his own citizens” against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The BBC thought it was all settled when they decided to censor Kneecap’s performance to avoid broadcasting pro-Palestinian sentiment…
Then Bob Vylan came out and led a ‘Death to the IDF’ chant and said ‘Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.’
– Afshshin Rattans (@koliinrattansi)
The Israeli embassy was declared in X “deeply disturbed” by the “incendiary and full of hate” messages pronounced during the festival and said that “freedom of expression should not be used to justify the incitement to hatred or violence.” A BBC spokesman said that some expressions were “deeply offensive” and thus warned during live broadcast, and noted that it will not include the actions of these groups in their service on demand.
The organization of the Glastonbury Festival, which concludes this Sunday, issued a statement that “does not tolerate hate speeches or the incitement to violence of any kind by its artists.”
