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Singer shouts ‘Free Palestine' before first match of Lions tour

Singer shouts ‘Free Palestine' before first match of Lions tour

Telegraph5 hours ago

An Irish singer shouted 'Free Palestine' during a performance before the rugby match between the British & Irish Lions and Argentina.
Cian Ducrot, the Irish singer-songwriter, began his set at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin with his hit I'll be Waiting and finished his second song as players from both sides were returning to the changing rooms. Just as they left the pitch, the 27-year-old called out 'Free Palestine' in place of a lyric.
Ducrot's pro-Palestine protest is the latest seen in sport. Other recent examples include a Palestine flag flown over Allianz Stadium by a drone during the Six Nations game between England and Italy in March. The group responsible, Palestine Action, said it targeted the match because Allianz insures Elbit Systems, one of Israel's largest weapons manufacturers.
Palestine Action had also targeted Turnberry, Donald Trump's Scottish golf course, digging up greens, spray-painting the clubhouse and daubing 'Gaza is not for sale' on the course in 10ft-high graffiti.
In football, Paris St-Germain fans held up a 'Free Palestine' banner last November, while a female spectator threw leaflets with the same message onto the court at the Australian Open match between Alex Zverev and Cameron Norrie in January.
Ducrot is a Grammy-award winning singer who grew up in Cork. His protest comes two days after Liam O'Hanna, an Irish-language rapper, was released on bail after appearing in court on a terror charge related to his support of Hezbollah.

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