Wretch 32 and Anwar Hadid reject Israel lobby bid to delete Lowkey

Asa Winstanley Arts and Culture 28 March 2022

Collage show two men at public events

Celebs including Wretch 32 and Anwar Hadid are telling Spotify not to delete Lowkey. (Vantagenews/SF/Famous)

Musicians and celebrities have come out in support of the rapper and Palestine solidarity campaigner Lowkey.

The British pro-Israel lobby group We Believe in Israel demanded last week that streaming giant Spotify delete his music, especially the 2010 track “Long Live Palestine Part 2”.

But numerous artists have put their names to an open letter defending him.

The letter, seen by The Electronic Intifada, has been signed by rappers Wretch 32 and Ghetts, model Anwar Hadid, actor Michael Malarkey, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters and hip-hop DJ Charlie Sloth.

The signatories are calling “on Spotify and all other platforms not to buckle to pressure groups who would rather see his music removed than grapple with the issues he highlights.”

The letter describes Lowkey as “the target of a coordinated smear campaign to demonize, defame and deplatform him.”

“Lowkey’s music has inspired and energized millions around the world and ignited an interest in many about the issues he raises in his work,” the signatories explained. “As a relentless advocate for Palestinian human rights, he is a target for many who would rather his message not be heard.”

Anwar Hadid is the son of Palestinian real estate tycoon Mohamed Hadid, and the younger brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid.

Outpouring

The others signatories on the letter are:

Award-winning filmmaker Farah Nabulsi, comedian and actor Guz Khan, boxer Billy Dib, award winning musicians Ana Tijoux and FredWreck, artist and music producer Bu Kolthoum, singer Maverick Sabre, rappers Avelino, K Koke and Styles P, musicians Narcy, Mr Hudson, Khxled Siddiq and Blay Vision, record producer Dexplicit, directors Charlie Sarsfield and Chirolles Khalil, actor Aymen Hamdouchi, broadcaster and actor Mim Shaikh and creative directors and photographers Zekaria al-Bostani and Elliot Hensford.

Since news broke last week of the latest Israel lobby campaign against Lowkey, there has been an outpouring of support for the rapper and campaigner on social media.

We Believe in Israel has worked closely with the Israeli government. In 2019, the Act.IL online troll army – run by the Israeli government – listed the group as one of its partners.

One of its other recent campaigns is a petition against an arms embargo on Israel.

On Monday the group said it had collected “over 500” signatures on a petition demanding Spotify delete “extreme anti-Israel content.”

Luke Akehurst, director of We Believe in Israel, last week told The Jewish News – an anti-Palestinian publication – that “the presence of Lowkey’s music is particularly offensive.”

Akehurst emphasized that his group would be campaigning for Lowkey’s recordings to be deleted by the streaming giant.

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Comments

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Bayan Attal replied on

Long live palestine
Long live Gaza
Long live Jerusalem the capital of Palestine
Long live our resistance, until Palestine is free from the river to the sea
Thank you low key much respect❤️

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Riham replied on

Time to end the fear from an apartheid state. End the occupation. End apartheid. Free Palestine

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Dane Baptiste replied on

With the plethora of music that normalises violence and anti blackness out here. Truth and virtue is rare. I stand with Lowkey

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Muna Diriye replied on

I stand with lowkey in solidarity! This is an absolute farce. He speaks on human rights violations & advocates social justice. What is there to disagree with or ban him for. A peace activist! For goodness sakes Spotify. *eye roll*

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Jamil replied on

Ironic they want to censor a remarkable real human being!! Long live Lowkey Long Live Palestine!!

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Zainab Al-Farabi replied on

Lowkey has inspired me for over a decade, his desire to stand against the injustices in Palestine makes him an absolute hero to me - I stand with Lowkey

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Ruweyda replied on

You cannot remove a man who have so many standing behind him.

Truth hurts the ignorant!

Thank you Lowkey for educating a generation ❤️🙏🏾

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Jack T replied on

All power to Low Key

The public have to be made aware of the spin that Israel is a Jewish State. It is NOT, it is a Zionist apartheid State, the intention of which is to remove Palestinians from their ancestral land and homes and replace them with Zionist colonisers.

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Amber Aslam replied on

I stand with low key through and through. A talented, brave activist. ✊🏽Forever grateful for his work

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Rena Al-zubaidy replied on

I support low key and his free speech! Everyone’s free speech, and I do not appreciate specific groups trying to muzzle others and hide the truth!

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Souad replied on

Thank you for being a voice for the voiceless. You have had an inspirational impact and I will always support you.

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Raheela replied on

This man has educated a generation of people. He is the voice of the voiceless.

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Asa Winstanley

Asa Winstanley's picture

Asa Winstanley is an investigative journalist who lives in London. He is an associate editor of The Electronic Intifada and co-host of our podcast.

He is author of the bestselling book Weaponising Anti-Semitism: How the Israel Lobby Brought Down Jeremy Corbyn (OR Books, 2023).