The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has been criticised for giving a platform to a singer who has previously referred to Israelis as “aliens” and attacked “Zionists” in his song lyrics.
Khalid Siddiq, known as KHXLED, performed at Eid in the Square on Saturday May 30, an event put on in Trafalgar Square by City Hall.
During his set, he encouraged the crowd to join in with chants of “Free Palestine” while he was singing on stage.
Today's Eid in the Square- a public event organised by Sadiq Khan - encourages chants of Free Palestine.
Video @elliottfranks pic.twitter.com/MvLVb2CsXk
However, one Jewish organisation has questioned whether he was an appropriate choice of singer given some of the lyrics in his songs, which have been described as “demonising” of Israelis and Zionists.
In one of his songs, Road to Palestine, referred to Israelis as “aliens living there illegally” and other lyrics include “me no want to see no Zionists”.
In another song, Freedom, the lyrics state: “We need Palestine to return to the people of God… Trust me one day we gon see Palestinians have freedom Everyting a bless in Gods kingdom Devil dem a rise we nuh fraid demmm [sic]”.
Siddiq also previously complained that one of his songs was removed from YouTube for being judged as "content that glorifies violent criminal organisations or incites violent acts against individuals or a defined group of people”, something he said was “comical”.
He lamented that an Israeli hip-hop song “with over 24 million views on YouTube literally naming targets they would like to see killed, including famous Palestinian celebrities like Gigi & Bella Hadid, somehow doesn't fall under this category” and accused the video service of inconsistency.
“I have no problem with my track being taken down due to violent lyrics etc, but when that same standard is not applied across the board and selectively enforced. That is when there is a cause for concern”, he added.
The Jewish Leadership Council criticised the Mayor of London for featuring Siddiq as a performer at his Eid event.
"The Mayor of London proudly presents London as a "city for all Londoners,” but his official Eid event platformed a performer who uses language demonising Israelis and Zionists.
"Dehumanising an entire people on the basis of their nationality is not a criticism of a government; it is the expression of hatred directly linked to the rise in antisemitism we are seeing here in London”, Russell Langer, the group’s public affairs director, told the JC.
The Mayor of London and Khalid Siddiq have been contacted for comment.
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