Turkey bans concert of French singer over pro-'Israel' stance
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Turkey cancels Enrico Macias’ Istanbul concert over his pro-"Israel" stance as cultural boycotts grow amid worsening Turkey-"Israel" relations.
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French singer Enrico Macias arrives at La Madeleine Church prior to the funeral ceremony of late French rock singer Johnny Hallyday Saturday, December 9, 2017, in Paris. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)
Turkish authorities have cancelled a scheduled concert by Algerian-born French singer Enrico Macias in Istanbul, citing public opposition to his outspoken support for "Israel".
The governor’s office in Istanbul announced on Wednesday that Macias’ performance, set for Friday evening in the Şişli district, would not go ahead.
The decision followed “intense calls for protests against the concert,” according to the official statement. Authorities added that such demonstrations would leave protesters “in an unjust position legally, and cause grievances,” and therefore banned any gatherings around the venue.
Macias, 86, responded with disappointment, telling AFP he was “deeply surprised and saddened not to be able to see my audience, with whom I have always shared values of peace and fraternity.” He added that he had performed in Turkey for six decades and maintained a long connection with the country.
Singer's background
Born Gaston Ghrenassia to a Sephardic Jewish family in Algeria, Macias has been a fixture in French popular music since the 1960s. He is not welcome in Algeria on account of his decades-old pro-"Israel" stance.
He has performed for Israeli troops, raised funds for the Israeli army, and publicly defended "Israel’s" military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. In a 2025 interview, he reiterated that Israeli violence was “a response to Hamas,” while insisting he had “nothing against the Palestinians”.
During the October 1973 War, Macias sang for Israeli occupation soldiers on the frontlines and crossed the Suez Canal with military units. In 1978, he was invited by Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat to perform at the pyramids following the Camp David accords with "Israel."
Later, in 2006, he was awarded a medal by Israeli Security Minister Shaul Mofaz in recognition of his support for Israeli troops.
Turkey-'Israel' relations in decline
The Istanbul concert cancellation comes against the backdrop of rapidly deteriorating Turkey-"Israel" ties. Since October 2023, Ankara has accused "Israel" of committing genocide in Gaza and adopted a series of punitive measures.
Turkey halted all trade with "Israel," closed its airspace to Israeli flights, and in 2025 announced the severing of all diplomatic relations.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has framed "Israel’s" war in Gaza as “one of the greatest barbarities of the century” and repeatedly called for international intervention.
Polls show these views reflect strong public sentiment, whereby a 2025 Pew survey revealed that 93% of Turkish adults hold unfavorable views of "Israel," one of the highest levels worldwide.
