Demonstrators called on Wednesday for a boycott of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be hosted by the Swedish city of Malmo next month.
Demonstrators outside the city of Malmo raised a banner calling for a boycott of the Israeli occupation above the Eurovision logo, while another banner appeared with red spots resembling blood and scissors cutting a microphone wire in the image of the Israeli flag.
The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, describes the contest as a non-political event.
But global political developments often cast a shadow over the competition, which is being held this year amid protests and boycotts due to devastating Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, affecting cultural events across Europe.
Mats Riel (43 years old), a resident of Malmö who works in a library, said: “I think it is not possible for Israel to participate in Eurovision. Allowing them to participate despite excluding Russia is clearly a double standard.”
The European Broadcasting Union banned Russia’s participation in the Eurovision contest in 2022 after several official European broadcasters called for Moscow’s expulsion after its invasion of Ukraine.
The European Broadcasting Union has so far resisted calls to exclude Israel from the Eurovision competition, and on Wednesday urged an end to directing online abuse at some participating artists.
“We have all been moved by the images, stories, and undoubted pain suffered by those in Israel and Gaza,” he said in a statement. “However, we hope to address the drivers and discussions surrounding this situation, especially the campaigns on social media against some of the participating artists.”
Israel has continued the war since October 7, 2023, despite the Security Council issuing an immediate ceasefire resolution, and despite its first appearance before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing “genocide.”
TRT Arabic – Agencies
