The cancellation is in solidarity with Mashrou' Leila, a local band that was cut from the festival because of its gay vocalist
Within Temptation has cancelled a show they were scheduled to perform at the Byblos International Festival in Lebanon. The act was in support of the indie band Mashrou' Leila , whose singer Hamed Sinno is gay.
In a statement on Facebook, the band explained the decision. "Aside from the fact that Lebanese authorities are unable to provide security for artists to perform in peace, we have decided to cancel the show in solidarity with Mashrou' Leila and in support of tolerance and freedom of expression.".
According to The Guardian , the festival faced pressure from local religious groups and church leaders to remove Mashrou' Leila from the lineup. Organizers feared violence after critics threatened to stop the show "by force."
The city archbishop's office condemned the group, saying it "undermines religious rights and human values by attacking the symbols of Christianity.".
On Twitter, Mashrou' Leila spoke out against their detractors and said they had “no intention of offending anyone” with their music. They explained that the songs were “taken out of context” and “misrepresented.”.
“Our goal has always been to grow as artists and use our platforms to shed light on the world’s problems. Meanwhile, to make our people happy. Nothing more; nothing less,” the band wrote.
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