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Oktoberfest to ban song that encourages far right chants
The song L’Amour Toujours is being banned by the organisers of Oktoberfest after incidents where it provoked crowds to shout far-right chants to the tune.
Oktoberfest boss Clemens Baumgärtner told local reporters that the song by Italian DJ Gigi D’Agostino would be banned and revealed via the dpa: “We want to ban it and I will ban it.”
D’Agostino insisted: “There’s no place for all that right-wing b******t at the Wiesn,” and explained that, even though the song does not contain any right-wing extremist content, it has become adopted by people “very clear right-wing extremist connotations” in Germany.
According to reports, several incidents involving racist chants to the song have caused outrage after videos went viral online and the police in several German states have also launched criminal investigations into the events.
A video of revellers outside a pub on the island of Sylt shouting racial slurs to the tune of has prompted the suggested ban.
Baumgärtner said Oktoberfest’s operating conditions have always allowed them to ban particular slogans or content from the event, which he described as a “light-hearted and beautiful” festival that welcomes many foreign guests.
Baumgärtner reiterated that “the Wiesn is apolitical” and does not support incitement of hatred in any way.
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