Fontaines D.C. have cancelled a gig in Istanbul due to the venue’s sponsor Zorlu Holding being on The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS) list.
BDS says that the power plants in which Zorlu Holding is a partner meet at least 7% of Israel’s annual electricity needs and that Zorlu Holding is the largest Turkish capital group in Israel.
The band shared a message on their stories saying:
To all our wonderful fans in Turkey.
Further to conversations with Palestinian artists and human rights activists, we have now decided to cancel our show at Zorlu PSM, Istanbul on Tuesday 20th August. The global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, led by the largest Palestinian coalition, has called on artists to refuse to play Zorlu PSM until Zorlu fully divests from the supply of energy to Israel while it carries out what the International Court of Justice now agrees is plausibly a genocide.
We were really looking forward to visiting and playing beautiful Istanbul, however in this instance, we must be clear in our convictions and put solidarity with the people of Palestine first. We promise to play in Turkey as soon as we can make it possible.
Full ticket refunds will be available from point of purchase.
With Love, Fontaines DC#EndIsraeliGenocide
#EndIsraeliApartheid
#SupportBDS
#FreePalestine
“Zorlu Energy part-owns the Dorad plant, supplying 5-8% of apartheid Israel’s energy while it carries out genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in besieged Gaza,” said a post on the BDS Instagram.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
