the Union of contemporary music expresses its “anger” and asks Emmanuel Macron to “intervene”

Aurélie Hannedouche, director of the Syndicat des musiques contemporaines, announced on Thursday April 6 on franceinfo of her “great concern” and his “anger” after the cancellation of Bilal Hassani’s concert due to threats from Catholic and traditionalist movements. The concert was to take place in Metz in an old basilica that had been desecrated for 500 years. She asks Emmanuel Macron and Gérald Darmanin to“to intervene” to call back “what is freedom of expression today in France”.

Aurélie Hannedouche calls for resistance to intimidation: “We absolutely must not give in to this freedom of creation, this freedom of expression which are fundamental freedoms”. She then fears “self-censorship on the part of artists because they are afraid. We can understand them”she says.

“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. And lately, we have seen other desires to have concerts canceled by extremist groups, either Catholic, religious, but also racist. And this is extremely worrying. “

Aurélie Hannedouche, director of the current music union

at franceinfo

According to her, only the state and its components can restore the freedom to perform on stage for an artist from the minority: “It’s a real reduction in thought, it’s a real reduction in diversity and we really think that the State has a role to play, cities, local authorities, to be able to maintain this kind of concerts”she says.

She also welcomed the positions taken by the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, who said “very concerned about the situation”and the mayor of Nantes who proposes that Bilal Hassani can come and play again in his city. “In Bilal Hassani’s words, there is absolutely nothing illegal, absolutely nothing provocative. Minorities have the right to express themselves”she believes.