Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila to split after online harassment

(L-R) Musicians Haig Papazian, Carl Gerges and Hamed Sinno of Mashrou’ Leila pose for a picture on November 1, 2017 in New York [ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images]

Middle Eastern indie rock band, Mashrou’ Leila, has announced it will disband following online abuse, the Thomas Reuters Foundation has reported.

Lead singer, Hamed Sinno, said the group had taken the decision after persistent harassment on social media as a result of some of the band members being openly gay.

“It made us feel very pressured,” Sinno said. “We couldn’t continue working and creating like that.”

Sinno formed the band with six others while studying at the American University of Beirut in 2008.

Mashrou’ Leila has performed around the world, with its lyrics tackling sectarianism, gender equality and homophobia. It has been banned in Jordan and its 2019 concert in Lebanon was cancelled “to prevent bloodshed” after church leaders accused the group of blasphemy.

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