Turkey: For his support of Israel, Enrico Macias is Banned from Performing in Istanbul

CENSORSHIP:The governorate of Istanbul says it wants to avoid excesses during demonstrations “against the genocide (of) the terrorist state Israel in Gaza and its supporters”

While the government of Benjamin Netanyahu continues its vast deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, the Türkiye decided to release the censorship card. Authorities announced Wednesday that they had banned a concert by the singer Enrico Macias scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, following calls to demonstrate against the artist because of his pro-Israel positions.

The governorate of Istanbul indicates that it wanted to prevent any demonstration, on the sidelines of the concert, against the genocide (of) the terrorist state Israel has Gaza and his supporters, however, consider the calls to protest legitimate.

Enrico Macias “surprised and saddened”

“I have had the privilege of singing in Istanbul and Izmir for more than sixty years, two cities that I particularly like for their extraordinary audiences”, reacted the 86-year-old artist. “I am deeply surprised and saddened not to be able to reunite with my audience, with whom I have always shared values of peace and fraternity”, he added.

In an interview with the French media “Legend” broadcast in mid-August on YouTube, the artist, who several times defended Israel’s response to the bloody attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas from October 7th, 2023, declared that he had always sung about peace between Jews and Muslims. All the time. “I am the first Jew to bring together Jews and Muslims”, he said. My problem is that I can’t stand the violence of terrorists. […] And if there was violence on the Israeli side, it is because of Hamas”, he added, stressing that he had “nothing against the Palestinians”.

A return currently impossible to Algeria

The singer, born in 1938 into an Arab Jewish family in Constantine, never returned Algeria since his departure in 1961, due to systematic outcry within part of the political class accusing him of his support for Israel. “I remain hopeful. If the destiny that remains for me wants me to return to Algeria, I will not refuse”, he confided in spring 2023.

With more than 60 years of career and 150 songs under his belt, Enrico Macias helped popularize Arab-Andalusian music. His hits like Children from all countries and People from the north are part of the heritage of French-speaking song and have traveled to many countries.