Why Mashrou' Leila is banned from Lebanon's Byblos festival - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Michal Kranz

Michal Kranz

Aug 1, 2019

(L-R) Musicians Haig Papazian, Carl Gerges and Hamed Sinno of Mashrou' Leila pose for a picture on November 1, 2017 in New York.
The symbol of solidarity brought a harsh backlash. As Lebanese rockers Mashrou' Leila played in Cairo, fans hoisted in the air rainbow flags, the global emblem of gay equality. The open-air festival on September 22 passed peacefully. But as pictures of the flags spread, Egyptian authorities launched roundups of the gay community, arresting dozens of people, with rights groups sayi — The musicians Haig Papazian, Carl Gerges and Hamed Sinno of Mashrou' Leila, Nov. 1, 2017. — ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

Musicians Haig Papazian, Carl Gerges and Hamed Sinno of Mashrou' Leila pose for a picture , New York, Nov. 1, 2017.

Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila quits after years of harassment over sexual orientation

Hanan Hamdan

AppleMark

Lebanese Band Cancels Gig With Chili Peppers in Beirut

Lebanese artists voice social concerns

Florence Massena (Lebanon Pulse)

Florence Massena (Lebanon Pulse)

Artists, who are against the Egyptian army and government, work on graffiti representing anti-military power along Mohamed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square in Cairo early November 24, 2013. To commemmorate the passing of 100 days since security forces cleared the vigils in support of ousted President Mohamed Mursi in Cairo, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood plan to take to the streets on Sunday. Army and police forces closed Rabaa al-Adawiya, Tahrir and Nahda squares in preparation for the demonstration

Artistic freedom of expression shrinks in 'new' Egypt

Shahira Amin