Roger Waters investigated by German police for alleged Nazi glorification during performance

The artist Roger Waters (79), who helped found Pink Floyd, is being investigated by German police.

Photos on social media show Waters wearing a long black coat with red armbands on stage during a performance of “In the Flesh” during a concert at the Mercedes-Benz Arena last week.

On the bracelets there were two crossed hammers, and not swastika stars as the Nazis used, writes Guardian.

– We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to hate speech because the clothes worn on stage could be used to glorify or justify the Nazi regime, and thus could disturb public order, says police spokesman Martin Halweg to the AFP news agency.

– The costume resembles the clothes of an SS officer, Halweg added.

Germany has very strict rules against the use of effects from Nazism, and you can get up to three years in prison for breaking the rules, writes BBC. There are nevertheless exceptions for artistic or educational purposes.

Comment: A prolonged lapse of reason

Defending the costume

Bob Geldof performed the same song in a Nazi-like uniform in the film version of the rock opera “The Wall” in 1982, while Waters wore a similar costume during her “The Wall” tour between 2010 and 2013, writes the Guardian.

The police will now examine footage from the previous concerts to find out if the costume has been changed, the newspaper writes.

In a statement on Twitter, Waters criticizes the accusations, writing that they come from people who are looking to smear him.

– The parts of my performance that have been questioned are clearly a statement against fascism, injustice and narrow-mindedness in all forms, he writes according to Australian ABC.

Controversial

In recent years, the artist has become a controversial figure, and he has, among other things, been accused of being antisemittantisemittThe word is used for people who have hostile attitudes and actions aimed at Jews.which he himself denies.

He has also been criticized for his connections with the so-called BDSBDSStands for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions, and is a strongly Israel-critical movement. – campaign, which advocates a boycott of Israel and the imposition of sanctions as a result of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

Also read: Pink Floyd legend compares Israel to Nazi Germany

It has caused strong reactions that during his concerts Roger Waters has released balloons shaped like a pig and with the Star of David on it.

Recently, a German court decided that Waters can hold a concert in Frankfurt on May 28. The authorities in Frankfurt and the state of Hesse tried to stop the concert because they believe Waters has anti-Semitic attitudes.

In February, he addressed the UN Security Council at the invitation of Russia.