French singer Imany calls on Izmir music crowd to stand with Palestine
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Imany joins the list of celebrities around the world calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and freedom for Palestine.
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French singer Nadia Mladjao, also known as Imany, performs on stage during the 32nd Victoires de la Musique, the annual French music awards ceremony, in Paris, Friday, February 10, 2017. (AP)
In the middle of her concert in the Turkish city of Izmir, French singer Imany called on the crowd and her fans to support Palestine.
"Everyone here, raise your fists in the air for the innocent people killed all over the world. Raise your fists for a cease-fire in Palestine...Freedom for Palestine! As I said, if one of us is not free, none of us are free."
The audience raised their fists while cheering and applauding for her call.
Read more: 'Israel's' dangerous weapon: Normalization through arts and culture
Imany performed on stage at the Izmir Kultur Park Open-Air Theatre as part of her tour in Turkiye for her new album Voodoo Cello.
Art is the soul of a world that has lost its soul. And it can never be stopped.
— Ülküm Gözde GündoÄŸdu (@Ulkumgozde) June 4, 2024
A quote from Imany's Ankara concert. 👊🇵🇸#FreeGaza#FreePalestine@Imanyofficiel pic.twitter.com/4IhuJvoGnf
Musicians, artists boycott UK cultural events over 'Israel' ties
In a show of protest that took place late in May, keynote speakers did not appear and headliners refused to show up for the Great Escape, a "showcase" event that has launched the careers of artists like Stormzy, AlunaGeorge, Fat White Family, and Anna Calvi, as tensions over the war on Gaza increase.
Many acts withdrew due to a pro-Palestinian boycott targeting the event's sponsorship by Barclays Bank, which, according to campaigners, has increased its investments in arms companies that trade with "Israel".
A spokesperson for Barclays acknowledged "the profound human suffering caused by this conflict" but clarified that Barclays "does not make its own investments" in the nine defense companies and acts on the instructions of its clients.
Artists such as Macklemore have been using their platforms to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and even released songs to protest the US-support Israeli genocide.
Read next: Gaza ceasefire takes center stage at 2024 Oscars
