Turkey bans Enrico Macias concert over singer’s support for Israeli genocide

Turkish officials have cancelled a concert by French singer Enrico Macias in Istanbul, citing public anger over his support for Israel’s assault on Gaza.

The Istanbul governorate announced the decision on Wednesday, saying it sought to prevent protests against “the genocide of the terrorist state Israel in Gaza and its supporters” during Friday’s event.

Macias, 86, expressed dismay over the cancellation, telling AFP he was “deeply surprised and saddened not to be able to see my audience, with whom I have always shared values of peace and fraternity.” The artist, born in Algeria to a Jewish family, has repeatedly defended Israel’s war on Gaza, saying in an August YouTube interview that “if there was violence on the Israeli side, it was because of Hamas.”

Enrico Macias has also participated in concerts to raise millions of dollars for the Israeli army.