Belgian-Italian international singer Lara Fabian has cancelled her concert in Beirut, which was scheduled in February, over a boycott campaign by anti-Israeli groups based in Lebanon.
The singer announced the cancellation of her concert in a message posted on her Facebook page.
She wrote a “Love letter” to her Lebanese fans in which she said that “Only music can erase differences and break mental, religious and cultural barriers…”. “I won’t sing under the threats I’m victim of…
I don’t want to deal with Hatred …I believe in tolerance, generosity and truth. I LIVE and LOVE.” she added.
Lara Fabian was scheduled to perform at the Casino du Liban, in Jounieh on the 14th and 15th of February.
In her message, she promised her Lebanese fans that she would “give a unique show” that will be her “contribution for peace…”. According to the singer, her performance will be broadcasted for free, on the evening the show was originally supposed to take place.
Back in Beirut, fans and concert goers expressed their anger over the cancellation of the concert some even blaming the whole thing on “Cultural terrorism”.
“Now you know why I was so upset against these sad ugly stupid persons. I just wish they can read my mind and hear what I am wishing for them. Another sad day for Art Censorship in Lebanon…”, wrote renowned promoter and head of the event management company 2U2C, Jyad Murr on his Facebook page.
This is not the first time a concert in cancelled in Beirut over accusations that the visiting artists had performed in Israel before coming to Lebanon.
Back in June 2010, several groups including “the Campaign to Boycott Israeli Supporters in Lebanon” and the Campaign for the Lebanese Boycott of Zionism” had urged fans to skip the Placebo gig in Beirut. The move comes after Brian Molko’s troupe played a show in Israel, in spite of international criticism of the country’s attack on a humanitarian aid ship bound for blockaded Gaza in May 2010.
A “cyberwar” later erupted with Facebook groups being created both to criticize and support the “Campaign for the Lebanese Boycott of Zionism”
Below is singer Lara Fabian’s message to her Lebanese fans.
To you my Lebanese’s friends a Love letter
To Love…
The only source of peace and reconciliation…
To Love…
The only true intelligence, deep and endless
To Love…
The only weapon against its sworn enemy, HATRED…
To us who live under the same sky,
I wish us love… and all the cure it can get…
To us who make only one, may love give us the strength TO ALL BE HUMAN.
To us who suffer, often beaten by foolishness and absurdity, may love light us the only way we are travelling on together: LIFE
Only music can erase differences and break mental, religious and cultural barriers…
Those who make a distinction are a minority of scared people…
They are living with hatred because they weren’t loved enough.
I won’t sing under the threats I’m victim of…
I don’t want to deal with Hatred …
I believe in tolerance, generosity and truth.
I LIVE and LOVE.
Those who don’t understand that; and don’t want me to come in their beautiful country; where I already had the chance to sing once before,don’t have to worry .
I won’t come and disturb your quietness with my physical presence,
But I will be there my way.
On An evening of Valentine’s Day, love songs and music will alleviate everyone’s heart and soul.
I will give a unique show, created for the occasion, it will be my contribution for peace…
I will broadcast it for free , on the evening my show in Beirut should have taken place.
In that way ,I will continue on the path that i have chosen, the path of LOVE and light…
May this enlighten every spirit to the end, in order to alleviate their sorrow and dissolve their hatred
In my soul and conscience I know that the love is immutable.
And that it doesn’t know the restrictions of time and space…
I write you this letter of love, because even if I’m forced to do it from a far , I will sing for YOU my Lebanese friends.
