Women's associations and politicians are mobilizing to force the cancellation of Rammstein concerts in Switzerland after accusations of sexual assault against the singer of the German metal band. The Swiss Socialist Youth (JS) launched a petition Thursday night to cancel the concerts scheduled for June 17 and 18 in Bern, the Swiss capital, although the lawyers of Till Lindemann - singer and lyricist of the group - formally deny the accusations made by several young women since May.
"These accusations of sexual assault must be taken seriously! The only responsible thing to do in this context is to cancel the concerts," said Thomas Bruchez, vice-president of the JS at Keystone-ATS. On Saturday morning, the petition - widely shared by the Swiss press - had collected more than 5200 signatures out of the 7500 targeted. Swiss Socialist Women, the feminist peace organisation cfd and the NGO against violence against women Brava also support the initiative.
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In the columns of the tabloid Blick on Friday, the Bernese committee of the feminist strike collective demanded that the organizer give up the concerts and said it was considering a possible action in front of the Wankdorf stadium, where the two performances are to be sold-out crowded.
Freedom of speech
Known in particular for their number of songs with very raw sexual references, and their occasional polemics on the Holocaust, Rammstein is the German-speaking band that sells the most albums in the world. Its worldwide success is also based on the excesses of his animated concerts with great pyrotechnics, and the imposing physical presence of Till Lindemann with his deep bass voice.
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The case began in late May with the testimony of a 24-year-old Irish woman accusing the singer of drugging and sexually assaulting her after a concert the same month in Lithuania. Other young women then testified, all describing more or less the same scenario. The groupies would have been spotted in the front rows of concerts, filmed or photographed so that Till Lindemann could make his choice, before for some to be invited backstage for parties. Some would then have been drugged before suffering the assaults of the singer, aged 60.
"On social networks, especially Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, serious accusations were made by various women against our client," write Berlin lawyers Simon Bergmann and Christian Schertz. "It has been repeatedly claimed that women have been drugged with GHB or alcohol at Rammstein concerts, in order to allow our client to engage in sexual acts on them," they add. "These accusations are invariably false," the lawyers say. "We will immediately take legal action for all such allegations," they threaten.