Palestine activists challenge Royal Opera House over Ukraine support
Described by one audience member online as 'extraordinary scenes', a video was published online showing the performer resisted attempts to have the flag removed.
Now, Scottish activists have written to the board and said the Opera House doubling-down on their stance is "like rubbing salt into the wound".
Soon after the incident, the ROH issued a statement, writing: 'The display was a spontaneous act by the artist which was not approved by the theatre and was completely inappropriate for a curtain call'.
They added that the flag "is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.'
Activists from the Scottish Palestinian Society wrote to the theatre's chief executive, Alex Beard, and said in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Opera house issued a statement in solidarity with Ukraine.
In 2022, the ROH stated: 'All of us here at the Royal Opera House are shocked and appalled by the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine."
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They added: 'As an expression of respect for all those affected by this terrible conflict, we will be lighting our building in the colours of the Ukrainian flag every night from 28 February, and in a moment of reflection playing the national anthem of Ukraine before each performance.'
Activists questioned : "We would like to ask why, despite the horrors of what we have witnessed being done to occupied Palestinians including, the widely documented mass starvation, the targeted killing, torture and imprisonment of Palestinians including doctors, academics, artists and journalists, the ROH has not once dedicated the effort and consideration to Palestinians that it has repeatedly and rightfully afforded to Ukrainians?
"This includes what appears to be not a single statement of solidarity with Palestinians, a people living under the world's longest illegal occupation and subjected to some of the worst crimes against humanity, including man-made mass starvation of an entire civilian population. Something the world has not witnessed since World War Two."
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The campaigners also claimed the artist who displayed the Palestinian flag during the performance has been barred from working for the ROH.
In response, Beard said the flag displayed at the curtain all was "not authorised and occurred outside the framework of the performance".
"Our commitment to neutrality is not a dismissal of suffering or injustice, but a reflection of our responsibility to maintain a space where audiences and artists feel welcome, regardless of background or belief," Beard replied.
Alex Beard (lef) (Image: Archant)
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