Turkish authorities have cancelled a planned Robbie Williams concert in Istanbul, citing safety concerns amid planned protests and rising tensions surrounding the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in Israel.
The concert, scheduled for October 7, was called off following pressure from several non-governmental organisations and activist groups, including the Islamic Solidarity Platform, which accused the British pop star of supporting Israel. Protests had been planned under the slogan: “Zionist Robbie Williams, get out of Turkey!”
A source from the Istanbul governor’s office confirmed the cancellation to AFP on Sunday, attributing it to “safety concerns” but did not provide further details.
The event’s organisers also announced the cancellation in a statement, saying it was made “in line with a decision by the Istanbul governor’s office.” Refunds, they said, would be issued via the original ticketing platform.
Williams, whose wife is Jewish, has previously performed in Israel in 2015 and 2023, despite pressure from pro-Palestinian activists to boycott the country.
Reacting to the cancellation, the 51-year-old singer expressed regret on Instagram: “I am extremely sorry that I will not be able to perform in Istanbul next week. City authorities have cancelled the show in the interests of public safety. The last thing I would ever want to do is jeopardise the safety of my fans, their safety and security come first.”
This marks the second recent case of a high-profile concert being cancelled in Turkey over perceived political sensitivities. In September, Turkish authorities banned French-Algerian singer Enrico Macias from performing in Istanbul after backlash over his pro-Israel stance. The 86-year-old artist, who had performed in Turkey for over six decades, said he was “deeply surprised and saddened” by the decision.
AFP
