Punk rap duo Bob Vylan have said they are being "targeted for speaking up" after British police began an investigation into comments made during their set at the Glastonbury Festival.
They were criticised after leading chants of "Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" during a livestreamed performance at the Somerset music festival on Saturday afternoon.
Bobby Vylan, one half of the British duo, also led the Glastonbury audience in chants that included: "Free, free Palestine."
In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, captioned "Silence is not an option", Bobby Vylan and bandmate Bobbie Vylan said: "Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. Last week it was a Palestine pressure group, the week before that it was another band."
"We are not for the death of jews, arabs or any other race or group of people," they continued.
Bob Vylan said they "are for the dismantling of a violent military machine" that "has destroyed much of Gaza".
"We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction," they said.
"The government doesn't want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?"
They concluded: "We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too.
"Free Palestine."
On Monday, British police launched a criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Belfast rap trio Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury.
The police are investigating both groups over public order incidents, the police statement said.
Avon and Somerset Police said a criminal investigation was being undertaken after video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury were reviewed.
"Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further inquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation.
"This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage. The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes," police said in a statement.
The BBC said on Monday it "should have pulled" the live stream of Bob Vylan's performance that contained, what it called, "utterly unacceptable" and "antisemitic sentiments".
Kneecap's set was not streamed live. An edited version was later uploaded.
Bobby Vylan is the stage name of Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports, while his bandmate drummer uses the alias Bobbie Vylan.
The group was formed in Ipswich in 2017 and are known for addressing political issues in their albums including racism, masculinity, and class.
Bob Vylan have now been banned from the US, where they were due to tour in the autumn.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the duo's visas were revoked for their "hateful tirade at Glastonbury".
Source: Press Association
