Fury as American DJ who is under investigation in Australia over 'anti-Semitic' speech is set to perform at London and Birmingham gigs next month
An American DJ being investigated in Australia over using allegedly antisemitic language at an art festival is set to perform in the UK this month despite Kanye West being banned from the country. DJ Haram, whose real name is Zubeyda Muzeyyen, is lined up for gigs at Phonox in London and Supersonic Festival in May, sparking fury amid the fallout from the Wireless Festival controversy surrounding antisemitism allegations against West himself.Muzeyyen sparked outrage after a speech at the Sydney Biennale art festival on March 13 during which she criticised civilian deaths in Gaza and dedicated her performance to pro-Palestinian activists. She also said at the art event: 'It is our duty to oppose the vile Zio-Australian-Epstein empire.'Her controversial monlogue was reported to police on March 17 by the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies which urged for an investigation into her allegedly antisemitic comments. The group's president, David Ossip, said the event's organisers had 'serious questions to answer' about how the festival had 'become a platform for such hate'.In a statement he said: 'References to the Zio-Australian-Epstein empire are pure antisemitism. DJ Haram, whose real name is Zubeyda Muzeyyen, is lined up to perform in the UK next month despite being investigated by police in Australia after using allegedly antisemitic language to talk about Gaza during a performance at an art festival in Sydney last month It comes after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood banned controversial rapper Kanye West from entering Britain to perform at Wireless Festival in July on the grounds his presence would 'not be conducive to the public good''The fact that this dangerous rhetoric was propagated on the stage of an event which received significant NSW Government funding is scandalous.'In a letter to police, signed by Ossip, the group alleged her remarks could be seen to incite hatred and advocate terrorism by declaring on stage 'long live the resistance' and 'glory to all our martyrs'.The letter said 'the language of 'martyrdom' and 'resistance' is frequently used in propaganda and messaging associated with organisations that are listed as terrorist organisations under Australian law, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah'.The group added: 'The term "Zio" is a derogatory term directed at Zionists in Australia and, in contemporary discourse, is commonly used as a pejorative reference to Jewish people who support the existence of Israel.'It said Muzeyyen's speech 'appears to promote a conspiratorial narrative suggesting malign influence by Jewish Australians' through the reference to Epstein, 'a convicted child abuser'.Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said Muzeyyen's music came from 'a DJ no one has ever heard of' and that her set had been drowned out by her 'slogans'. He said in a statement: 'What is surprising is that the Biennale is happy to platform such lame antics.'It is no wonder donors, patrons and sponsors are deserting cultural institutions and the arts is now desperately underfunded.' The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies alleged Muzeyyen had made antisemitic comments and urged police to launch an investigationAnd Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia, Jillian Segal, said: 'No community should feel unwelcome or targeted at publicly funded cultural events.'Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, also weighed into the debate, describing Muzeyyen's comments as 'horrid rhetoric' and 'distressing' in the wake of the Bondi beach attack in December. But he ruled out cutting funding for the art festival after Jewish groups condemned the DJ's remarks. In 2024 the Sydney Biennale received nearly $3.2million from the government. The Biennale said on Monday that it would be 'inappropriate to comment' on an internal investigation over the incident. It comes after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood banned controversial rapper Kanye West - also known as Ye - from entering Britain to perform at the festival in July on the grounds his presence would 'not be conducive to the public good'.He had been set to headline Wireless which has now cancelled this year's festival amid the backlash. Calls had been growing for West to be removed from the line-up after a string of anti-Semitic outbursts, including releasing a song called Heil Hitler and posing in a swastika T-shirt. Sir Keir Starmer insisted he 'should never have been invited to headline Wireless' and said he 'stands firmly with the Jewish community' against antisemitism.The 48-year-old had applied for an Electronic Travel Authorisation but was denied entry to the UK. As a result, organisers have cancelled the entire event, saying refunds would be issued to all ticketholders. A spokesperson said previously: 'As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time.'Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. 'As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.'
