Beirut, Lebanon (CNN)An international music festival in Lebanon has dropped a popular local band from its line-up, following threats of violence on social media and pressure from Christian groups over lyrics they labeled as “blasphemous.”
Mashrou’ Leila‘s performance at the Byblos International Festival, scheduled for August 9, was canceled “to prevent bloodshed and maintain peace and security,” event organizers said in a statement on Tuesday. The group has performed at the festival twice before, in 2010 and 2016.
Critics say the cancellation is a worrying development for freedom of expression in Lebanon.
