Women’s groups and politicians are mobilizing to force the cancellation of Rammstein concerts in Switzerland after the German metal band’s singer was accused of sexual assault.
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Socialist Youth Switzerland (JS) launched a petition on Thursday evening to cancel the concerts planned for June 17 and 18 in the Swiss capital, although the lawyers of Till Tindemann – the group’s spokesman and lyricist – have officially denied the allegations of several reject young women since May.
“These allegations of sexual assault must be taken seriously! The only responsible thing in this context is to cancel the concerts,” said Thomas Bruchez, vice president of the JS at the Keystone-ATS agency.
As of Friday afternoon, the petition had collected more than 3,600 signatures out of the 5,000 targeted, and the number of signatures was growing rapidly as the Swiss press largely took up the appeal.
The Swiss Socialists, the feminist peace organization cfd and the NGO against violence against women Brava also support the initiative.
In the columns of the tabloid Blick on Friday, the Berne committee of the feminist strike collective called on the promoter to cancel the concerts and said it was considering a possible action in front of the Wankdorf Stadium, where the two performances would take place.
Rammstein – many of their songs have very raw sexual references – is the German-speaking group that sells the most albums worldwide, and their worldwide success is also based on the excess of concerts, which feature a lot of pyrotechnics and physical presence, and Till Tindemann with his deep bass voice.
The case began in late May with testimony from a 24-year-old Irish woman who accused the group’s singer-songwriter of drugging and sexually abusing her after a concert in Lithuania that same month.
Other young women then testified, all describing more or less the same scenario.
The groupies were spotted, filmed or photographed in the front rows of the concerts to allow Lindemann to make his choice before inviting some of them to parties backstage.
Some were then said to have been drugged before being attacked by the 60-year-old singer.
“Without exception, these allegations are false,” assure Till Tindemann’s lawyers.
“We will immediately take legal action against all such allegations,” they threaten.