Furthermore,
Ile-de-france region withdraws its subsidies:
Yet another twist. Consequently, The Ile-de-France region announced Thursday August 21 withdrawing its financial aid in Rock en Seine for the year 2025. Therefore, The festival “Not wishing to deprogram the Kneecap group. In addition, with President Valérie Pécresse, we immediately reacted by deciding that there will not be one euro of subsidy”said Jérémy Redler, mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris and regional advisor to the big Events, on X on August 21.
Among these funds. In addition, 150,000 euros intended for the purchase of tickets by the region, in particular for young audiences, were also canceled. Furthermore, The total amount of this withdrawal was not specified, but the amount of the subsidy amounted to 540,000 euros in 2024. Meanwhile, This cancellation was only valued for 2025. Moreover, weighs relatively little compared to ile-de-france region withdraws its subsidies the festival budget, between 16 and 17 million euros this year. However, it is added to the withdrawal of that of the city of Saint-Cloud, where the festivities takes place. The right town hall had decided, last July, to withdraw the 40,000 euros paid to the festival.
“This late. unilateral decision […] So comes to sanction the entire programming and the organization of an entire festival whose management has not sold to pressures to deprogram this group ”protested the elected officials of the communist left to the Ile-de-France regional council. “This suspension therefore constitutes a warning. additional pressure on cultural actors whose freedom of programming should be put in tune with the right -handed arbitrariness”.
The suppression of the subsidy comes in a context of high tension. while several personalities and organizations call for the deprogramming of the concert scheduled for Sunday ile-de-france region withdraws its subsidies of the North Irish trio, committed for the Palestinian cause and accused of supporting Hezbollah. “By maintaining the Kneecap. the organizers transform Rock into Seine into a shame festival”said the president of the representative council of Jewish institutions in France, Yonathan Arfi on X.
“They desecrate the memory of the 50 French victims of Hamas on October 7 as of all the French victims of Hezbollah. The artists can be engaged but the apologists of terrorism do not have their place at festivals in France. ” he continued. In May. the LR president of the Valérie Pécresse region also called on X for the deprogramming of Kneecap, arguing that her positions were the subject of “Prosecution before British justice for the apology of terrorism”.
“Any anti -Semitic. apology for terrorism or calling for hatred” fera “The subject of legal proceedings”warned the Minister ile-de-france region withdraws its subsidies of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, in a letter dated August 14, in response to Caroline Yadan, deputy of the 8th district of the French established outside of France, of which Israel was part who had arrested her on the subject.
In response. Rock en Scène assured having taken his precautions: «discussions» took place with the entourage of the artists to clarify their positions and the management of the festival had «confirmation» that“There would be no overflows”. The event is owned by the American giant of Tours AEG. Combat, group of the French businessman Matthieu Pigasse, who sees in the presence of Kneecap an issue of “Freedom of creation and expression”. For the time being. the group has played the Eurockéennes de Belfort and the Green Cabaret in Charleville-Mézières, without incident.
Musicians from Northern Ireland regularly brandish Palestinian flags during their performances. and ile-de-france region withdraws its subsidies denounce on their social networks “The massacres” taking place in the Gaza Strip, and orchestrated by “A war criminal [Benyamin Nétanyahou]». They also deplore the methods of the British government which uses its judicial arsenal to “Persecute the artists who. dare to express themselves”.
But their support displayed in Palestine caused the cascade cancellation of several concerts, notably in Berlin and Cornwall. One of his three members. Liam O’hanna dit Mo Chara, is prosecuted for “Terrorist offense” After wearing a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London in 2024, where he appeared in the British capital on Wednesday.
Ile-de-france region withdraws its subsidies
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