The mayor of a municipality in Belgium has canceled an upcoming concert by the rock band Disturbed over safety concerns due to lead singer David Draiman’ comments about the conflict in Gaza.
The band was scheduled to perform Oct. 15 at the Forest National in Brussels as part of its “The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour.”
However, according to The Brussel Times, a police risk assessment warned that the band’s appearance could lead to violent demonstrations. As a result, Forest Mayor Charles Spapens has issued a police order banning the concert.
“My responsibility and priority are the safety of residents, neighbors, demonstrators, spectators and staff at Forest National,” Spapens said. “Given the police’s negative advice and the venue’s unique location, it was my duty to make this decision.”
Spapens had lobbied for the concert to be canceled earlier, Rolling Stone reported, after Draiman tweeted a photo in June of him signing IDF bombs with the phrase “[Expletive] Hamas” during a visit to Israel.
“This is about a man who signed a bomb that was dropped on Gaza. We do not support the presence of this artist, and even less so his position on Gaza,” Spapens said.
The show was also scheduled to take place one day after a national strike and other demonstrations in Brussels, including a prison staff strike.
Tickets for the show are still available on Live Nation, as well as on the band’s website. Neither the band nor Draiman has released any statement in response yet.
Israel has been accused by several organizations, including the U.N.Human Rights Council, of carrying out genocidal acts against the Palestinian people.
An October 2023 attack by the terrorist group Hamas on Israeli soil resulted in about 1,200 killed and 251 people taken hostage. The Gaza Health Ministry and other organizations estimate about 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since then.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.pennlive.com ’
