Priti Yente: I was stripped naked and searched as if I were a criminal – Police violence is real

“I was stripped naked and searched as if I were a criminal and put in a cell ” – The South African soprano was born in March 1985 in a small town, 300 km from Johannesburg, and her singing career took off about a decade ago. sing in Vienna, Berlin, Los Angeles, Hamburg and Paris

South African soprano Priti Yende claimed in posts on social media that French police ” treated her like a criminal ” upon her arrival at Roissy airport, a version that has been disputed by police and airport sources.

In a message posted on Instagram, the black artist explains that she was “marked” by the control she underwent at Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Yeden is currently performing at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, in an opera by Bellini.

” The police force is true, for people like me ,” says the soprano, linking the treatment of reserved because of her skin color.

” They stripped me and searched me as if I were a criminal and put me in a cell, ” he continued, without giving further details about the reasons for the search.

The 36-year-old Yedde arrived in Paris from Milan, holding a South African passport, but not a visa, said a French police source.

” There were no incidents at any time ” and she was not asked to undress, she added. They put her in a ” waiting room ” until they examined the situation and took her out an hour and a half later, after she was issued a visa to be allowed to enter French territory, said a French airport source, insisting that Gide was not targeted because of his color. her skin.

Priti Yende was born in March 1985 in a small town, 300 miles (300 km) from Johannesburg, and her singing career took off about a decade ago. She has sung in Vienna, Berlin, Los Angeles, Hamburg and Paris.