Byblos International Festival succumbed to the pressure of homophobic and religious extremists in Lebanon, who threatened violence against the LGBT-led band Mashrou' Leila and cancelled their concert on Aug 9. The Lebanese government failed to protect freedom of expression, artistic creation, and human rights. Within Temptation honorably pulled out of the festival today "in solidarity with Mashrou' Leila and in support of tolerance, freedom of speech and expression."We urge Yo-Yo Ma to do the same and cancel their performances in protest against this bigotry, extremism and homophobia.

read more in NYT article: https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/07/30/world/middleeast/ap-ml-lebanon-band-controversy.html?fbclid=IwAR25NozmpS_Un9XWlsNrX_KS-NuT92y8gSbAmYf1965IGNTgxEVM3-Mo9zA