An association of musicians in Iceland is calling on the country’s national broadcaster RÚV to withdraw from the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest unless Israel is banned from participating.
In a statement addressed to the RÚV director and board on Monday, the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers (FTT) board called “on RUV not to participate in Eurovision in 2023 unless Israeli is denied participation in the competition on the same grounds as Russia in the last competition.”
“We all have a duty to take a stand against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children,” the statement said.
“🇮🇸 Iceland: Icelandic Society of Authors & Composers Calls For RÚV to Boycott Eurovision if Israel Participates”https://t.co/fnyVdNs7SQ
— Árni Plúseinn (@arnipluseinn) December 12, 2023
“We always have the choice not to put our name to such things, whether we are individuals or state institutions,” it continued.
“We owe it to those nations that act with force through military might not to share the stage in an event that is always characterized by joy and optimism.”
Russia was banned from competing in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest following its invasion of Ukraine. The move came after Finland said it would not send a contestant if Russia were permitted to participate.
Remember in 2019 when Palestinians called for boycott of Eurovision in apartheid “Israel” and we were lectured about how it was all just about fun and music and nothing to do with politics? pic.twitter.com/PdyNxmPU34
— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) May 13, 2023
According to reports, Russia’s national broadcasters subsequently suspended their memberships of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which organizes the contest. The decision prevents them from participating in future contests.
In 2019, Iceland was fined by the EBU after its Eurovision act, Hatari, raised Palestinian flags during their appearance on the show held in Israel.
The 2024 Eurovision contest is set to take place in Malmo, Sweden in May.
(PC, MEMO)
