Israel-Hamas War: After that of Enrico Macias, Turkey Bans a Robbie Williams Concert

Israel-Palestinian conflict: While Robbie Williams performed in Israel in 2015 and 2023, pro-Palestinian NGOs lobbied against his visit to Turkey

The war between Israel and Hamas has consequences on musical programming in Turkey. Scheduled for October 7th in Istanbul, a concert by British singer Robbie Williams was banned for “security reasons”, a source from the city governor’s office said on Sunday, after calls from NGOs to demonstrate against his arrival.

The concert was scheduled for the same day as the anniversary of the Palestinian Islamist movement’s unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, which sparked a devastating war in Gaza that sparked protests around the world.

Threats of demonstrations

The organizing company announced that the concert was canceled “in accordance with a decision taken by the Istanbul Governor’s Office”, adding that ticket refunds would be made shortly through the platform on which they were purchased.

The 51-year-old singer performed in Israel in 2015 and 2023 despite calls for boycotts by pro-Palestinian activists. Several NGOs have urged Turkish authorities to cancel the upcoming concert in Istanbul, including the Islamic Solidarity Platform which had planned demonstrations under the slogan ” Robbie Williams, Zionist, leave Turkey! “.

Robbie Williams ‘extremely sorry’

“I am extremely sorry not to be able to perform in Istanbul next week”, the singer announced on his Instagram account. “Municipal authorities canceled the show in the interest of public safety”, he said. “The last thing I want to do is endanger the safety of my fans. Their safety comes first.

In September, the Turkish authorities had already banned it a concert planned in Istanbul by Enrico Macias, after calls to protest against the French singer’s pro-Israel views. The 86-year-old singer then declared that he had been performing in Turkey for sixty years and that he was deeply surprised and saddened not to be able to see (his) audience, with whom (he) always shared values of peace and fraternity.