Turkish authorities on Tuesday banned two heavy metal concerts and ordered the closure of the Zorlu Center concert hall for 48 hours, stating that these events are incompatible with public values.
The municipality announced the cancellation of concerts by the Russian disco group Slaughter to Prevail and the Polish black metal band Behemoth. Istanbul Mayor Davut Gül stated that any measures "harmful to society" are unacceptable.
Slaughter to Prevail frontman Alex Terrible acknowledged that the concert ban created a "very sad situation," adding that the authorities' decision was a concession to pressure from Islamist circles, which accuse the band of "satanic propaganda."
Representatives of the Zorlu Center have not yet commented on the incident.
This is yet another ban imposed by the authorities to appease conservative Islamists who are trying to block various music festivals and other artistic events on moral grounds.
Leave a comment