Turkish authorities have banned a concert of Enrico Macias, a French singer of Algerian-Jewish origin, after calls for protest over his pro-Israeli stance.
Singer Enrico Macias, Reuters/Charles Platiau
Turkish authorities have banned a concert of Enrico Macias, a French singer of Algerian-Jewish origin, after calls for protest over his pro-Israeli stance.
The Istanbul governor's office late on Wednesday said that Macias' performance scheduled for Friday evening in the city has been banned "after intense calls for protests against the concert."
Such protests would place protesters "in an unjust position legally, and cause grievances," the office said in a statement.
Any protests around the concert venue in Istanbul's Sisli district on Friday were also banned by the governor.
NATO member Turkey has fiercely criticised Israel over its actions in Gaza and says it is committing genocide there.
It has halted all trade with Israel, called for international measures against it, and has repeatedly urged world powers to stop supporting Israel.
Israel has strongly denied that its actions in Gaza, where its offensive has killed more than 63,000, amount to genocide.
Turkey’s decision does not honor a country that presents itself as a democracy.
Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever
Pope Leo discussed the "tragic situation in Gaza" during a meeting on Thursday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and called for a permanent ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, the Vatican said.
Hamas reiterated on Wednesday that it is ready for a comprehensive Gaza deal through which all Israeli hostages are released in exchange for the release of an agreed upon number of Palestinian prisoners.
Pope Leo and Israeli President Isaac Herzog have agreed to meet at the Vatican on Thursday but there was disagreement over whose idea the meeting was.
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