Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Singapore detains Massive Attack members, bans Palestinian flag display

8/4/2026

32 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Massive Attack Barred

Singapore barred Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall after they displayed a Palestinian flag at 29 July concert.
Police detained the duo, confiscated passports and warned them of offences under the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949 and the Public Order Act.
The band posted on 2 Aug that it was “surprised and disappointed,” and urged Singapore to ratify UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Summary

Massive Attack Boycott

Massive Attack belongs to the No Music For Genocide coalition of 1,000 artists and has avoided Israeli venues for 20 years, maintaining a boycott.
Frontman Robert “3D” Del Naja invited Palestinian activist Arab Barghouti, son of Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian political figure, to speak before a Primavera Sound set that was cancelled due to weather.
After a Singapore ban, Massive Attack scheduled a concert for August 6 in Brisbane, Australia.

History

Historical Context

In 1949 the United States enacted the Export Control Act, a “moral embargo” after Japan’s 1938 bombing of Chinese civilians, creating a precedent for restricting symbols. Singapore’s 1949 Foreign National Emblems Act and its 1970 Public Order Act follow that pattern, resulting in over 30 prosecutions, including detention of Massive Attack’s Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall for displaying a Palestinian flag.

1 of 3

Massive Attack Barred

Singapore barred Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall after they displayed a Palestinian flag at 29 July concert.
Police detained the duo, confiscated passports and warned them of offences under the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949 and the Public Order Act.
The band posted on 2 Aug that it was “surprised and disappointed,” and urged Singapore to ratify UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

1 / 3