Police in Berlin said Friday that they have opened an investigation of Roger Waters on suspicion of incitement over a costume the Pink Floyd co-founder wore when he performed in the German capital last week.
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Images on social media showed Waters firing an imitation machine gun while dressed in a long black coat with a red armband. Police confirmed that an investigation was opened over suspicions that the context of the costume could constitute a glorification, justification, or approval of Nazi rule and therefore a disturbance of the public peace. Once the police investigation is concluded, the case will be handed to Berlin prosecutors, who would decide whether to pursue any charges.
During the performance, he also compared the death of Anne Frank during the Holocaust for being a Jew to the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh "for being a Palestinians", even though the latter died because she was accidentally caught in the crossfire when IDF was in a counterterrorism raid near Jenin. Following the performance, Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli took to Twitter to write: Roger Waters is one of the world's worst Jew-haters and Holocaust deniers. look at this sickening background from his concert last night in Berlin. Anne Frank and 6 million Jews cannot answer you. But know @rogerwaters , you are an absolute disgrace to humanity!"
The European Jewish Congress also expressed its disgust, saying: "Roger Waters gig in Berlin. Is there anything more antisemitic than using Anne Frank as a prop on a German stage while prancing around in a Nazi uniform attacking Jews?"
Waters rejected the accusations in a statement early Saturday on Facebook and Instagram, saying that "the elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms."
He claimed that "attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated." Waters has drawn ire for his support of the boycott, divsetment and sanctions movement, which calls for boycotts and sanctions against Israel. He has rejected accusations of antisemitism.
Roger Waters is one of the world's worst Jew-haters and Holocaust deniers. look at this sickening background from his concert last night in Berlin. Anne Frank and 6 million Jews cannot answer you. But know @rogerwaters, you are an absolute disgrace to humanity! pic.twitter.com/F2ed2xAzZ9
— עמיחי שיקלי - Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) May 24, 2023
Authorities in Frankfurt tried to prevent a concert there scheduled for May 28, but Waters challenged that move successfully in a local court. In Munich, the city council said it had explored possibilities of banning a concert but concluded that it wasn't legally possible to cancel a contract with the organizer. His appearance there on Sunday was accompanied by a protest attended by the local Jewish community's leader.
Last year, the Polish city of Krakow canceled gigs by Waters because of his sympathetic stance toward Russia in its war against Ukraine.
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