Statements made by British punk rap group Bob Vylan during their performance at Amsterdam’s Paradiso on September 13 were not criminal, the public prosecution service has concluded.

The department said on Wednesday that although the comments could be seen as “provocative and coarse”, they did not constitute group insult, incitement to hatred or discrimination, or calls for violence. The department’s conclusion follows an investigation into four specific remarks made during the show.

The performance caused widespread controversy after fragments of the concert were shared on social media and reported in the press. Police received dozens of complaints, and 35 organisations and individuals eventually filed reports.

The department said it assesses speech only under existing law and case law, not on whether remarks are inappropriate or offensive. It also noted that in media coverage, the quotes were not always shown in full or in their proper context, which may have “contributed to misunderstanding”.

In particular, Jewish rights organisation CJO accused the band of “calling for a pogrom on the streets of Amsterdam. “Vylan called for “kicking them in the face, finding them on street”.  These are unacceptable statements,” the CJO said.

The actual quote, according to the department, was “Fuck Andy, fuck the fascists, fuck the Zionists. Get out there and fight them. Get out there and meet them in the streets. Get out there and let them know that you do not fucking stand by them. Do you understand me?”

The department also said that Bob Vylan’s reference to “Zionists” did not target Jewish people as a group. Zionism, it said, is a political ideology and therefore not protected under the discrimination provisions.

The prosecutors also ruled out incitement, stating that while the language was aggressive, the remarks were expressions of activism and political engagement consistent with the confrontational nature of punk. “There was no concrete call to violence,” the department said.

The Jewish rights group CJO has already said it will appeal against the public prosecution department’s decision.