Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, is under investigation by German police for wearing a Nazi-style uniform during a recent concert in Berlin. The display of Nazi symbols is illegal in Germany, with exceptions for educational and artistic purposes. The legal concept of « incitement of the people » makes it illegal to assault the human dignity of national, racial, religious, or ethnic groups. Waters appeared on stage as the character Pink from the rock opera The Wall, wearing a black leather trench coat with a red armband bearing two crossed hammers instead of a swastika. The song In the Flesh marks its protagonist’s descent into a drug-induced hallucination, in which he imagines himself as a fictional fascist dictator addressing a neo-Nazi rally.
Israeli authorities have criticised Waters for a segment featuring the names of activists killed by authorities, including Anne Frank and Shireen Abu Akleh. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, wrote on Twitter that Waters had compared the Holocaust victim Frank to « a journalist shot in an active combat zone », adding: « Waters seeks to compare Israel to the Nazis. » Berlin police will continue to gather evidence for approximately three months and then hand over their findings to the state prosecutor, who will assess whether Waters’s act can be considered as incitement to hatred. Waters is due to play a concert in Frankfurt on Sunday that city magistrates had tried to cancel, accusing him of being « one of the most widely known antisemites in the world ». Waters, who has always denied accusations of antisemitism, took legal action against the decision.
The controversy surrounding Waters’s costume and segment featuring the names of activists killed by authorities has sparked a debate about artistic freedom and the limits of expression. While some argue that Waters’s actions are a form of artistic expression and should be protected, others believe that they are offensive and should be condemned. The investigation by German police highlights the importance of understanding the legal and cultural context in which artistic expression takes place. It also raises questions about the role of artists in society and their responsibility to respect the dignity of all individuals and groups.
Keywords: Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, Nazi-style uniform, Berlin, incitement of the people, artistic expression, Israel, Anne Frank, Shireen Abu Akleh, Frankfurt, antisemitism, artistic freedom.
