The performances of the controversial American hip-hop artist Kanye West continue. Mayor of Arnhem Ahmed Marcouch announced on Thursday evening a letter announced to the council that the municipality has granted an event permit. On June 6 and 8, West, who now calls himself ‘Ye’, will perform in the GelreDome stadium.
West has made several anti-Semitic statements in recent years. He released a song called “Heil Hitler,” praised Hitler on social media and sold T-shirts with a swastika print. West apologized and blamed his comments on his bipolar disorder.
The performances have “understandably provoked a lot of commotion and reactions,” Marcouch writes in his letter. However, when granting permits, he can only assess public order, safety and violation of legal boundaries, he writes. Not on the basis of ‘personal or social disapproval’. If West expresses criminal conduct during his performance, then, according to Marcouch, it is up to the Public Prosecution Service (OM) to initiate criminal proceedings.
In France and the United Kingdom, among others, the authorities canceled West’s performances. A large majority of the House of Representatives also wanted the cabinet to make efforts to keep West out of the Netherlands.
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