SEPULTURA has expressed its "deep dissatisfaction" with the Lebanese authorities for banning the band from performing in the country. Earlier in the month, concert promoters Skull Session announced that authorities refused to process the bandmembers' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned SEPULTURA gig in Beirut's Hamra district on April 28. According to Skull Session, a "ban order" had been placed on SEPULTURA, accusing the bandmembers of "insulting Christianity" and being "devil worshippers." Earlier today (Monday, April 29), SEPULTURA released the following statement via its social media: "On behalf of SEPULTURA and staff, we would like to express to our public in Beirut our deep dissatisfaction with the situation to which we were submitted by the general security office which resulted in the cancellation of our show that would take place yesterday (Sunday, April 28th) at The Palace. "In 35 years of history, it was the first time we had our entry blocked in a country by a false interpretation of our purposes and values since our intention has always been to promote unity and freedom of expression through music, without making any political, racial or religious distinction. "To try to compensate everyone who, like us, are frustrated with what happened, we would like to invite you to watch the live broadcast of our upcoming Dubai concert on May 2 in honor of all SEPULTURA Lebanese fans who could not watch us in person. "LIVE STREAMING INFORMATION LINK: http://youtube.com/sepultura DAY: May 2, 2019 TIME: Lebanon - 22:00, Europe - 21:00, Brasil - 16:00, USA 3:00pm (ET) "We'd like to thank Skull Session, Sepulnation around the world, all media that has published anything related to this subject, and Embassy of Brazil in Beirut for all the support." SEPULTURA had previously played in the region, having performed in Dubai around two years ago. SEPULTURA made headlines in 2016 when the group's scheduled concert in Cairo was scrapped at the last minute over the same "devil-worshipping" accusations. In the early 2000s, there was strong opposition to heavy metal in Lebanon. People would be arrested in the streets for wearing a heavy metal band T-shirt as many thought it was satanic. Elia Mssawir, who helps to organize the annual Beirut Metal Fest, told CNN last year that the metal scene is largely accepted in Lebanon now and most people understand it to be a form of art.
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