After coming under widespread criticism, Ypres city council has revoked the permit of the controversial Frontnacht festival.
On 27 August, Frontnacht festival was due to feature musicians with clear links to neo-Nazi and fascist groups in Europe, prompting concern from European intelligence services as well as Belgium’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (CUTA).
The festival was announced in May but despite warnings and protests, the IJzerwake group was given a permit for the festival.
Ypres city council said that the permit came with conditons. “For example, on the condition that no groups would perform with neo-Nazi and neo-fascist ties,” said Ypres city councillor of events Diego Desmadryl. “The permit has now been revoked because the conditions are no longer met.”
City officials say that the permit was given without the council being fully informed about the festival’s line-up. Since then CUTA and European intelligence services expressed concern about the bands set to perform.
Frontnacht festival organisers threatened to take action if the permit were to be revoked.
