Controversial performance at Glastonbury Festival: No charges against Bob Vylan musician

The duo performed at the Glastonbury Festival in England at the end of June. The singer called for chants from the audience with the slogan “Death, death to the IDF”. The performance, which was classified as anti-Semitic, was subsequently massively criticized, including by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The BBC, which broadcast the performance live and was also exposed to serious accusations, and the organizer clearly distanced themselves from it.

Bob Vylan: “Without Fear” for Palestinian people

After the appearance, the police announced that they were investigating possible crimes and checking whether it was a hate crime. Now, months later, the authorities are talking about a complex and expensive case. During the course of the investigation it became clear that there were “fundamental evidentiary difficulties”. Therefore, the investigation is being stopped.

The musicians always presented the slogan, which was criticized from many sides, as a legitimate criticism of the Israeli warfare in the Gaza Strip. In an X article, Bob Vylan said that the criminal investigation had been “unjustified” from the start. The duo hope that the closed investigation inspires others to “stand up for the Palestinian people without fear and to continue to do so.”