This year’s Eurovision Song Contest final is just under a week away, and to say the least, it has been storming around the charge for the music competition.
Criticism rained when the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israel will be allowed to participate despite the war in Gaza, and several have announced a boycott of this year’s Eurovision because of the participation.
Read also: Gåte and other Eurovision artists ask for a truce
On Thursday morning, it became known that Eurovision bans Palestinian flags during the competition held in Malmö, on the grounds that it should not be a politically charged competition.
It arouses strong reactions, and several committed personalities do not buy the political reasoning.
Raser: – Very disappointed
Neither Palestinian flags nor signs with political messages or symbols are allowed inside the arena in Malmö on Saturday 11 May. This was confirmed by the Eurovision organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to Gøteborg Posten.
Several well-known personalities in this country have spoken loudly about the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and there has been an insane commitment to influencing the development of the conflict and a ceasefire.
Among those who have raised their voices against war crimes is entrepreneur Isabelle Ringnes (35). She tells Nettavisen that the decision from Eurovision is nothing but sad, and she believes the reasoning is too weak:
– I think it is tragic that it is defined as “political” to show support for a people who are bombed apart and together in violation of international law and to stand up for our universal human rights. It is not political to be against the mass killing of children as we see unfolding in Gaza.
Read also: Odd-Magnus and Tinashe Williamson fork out for the bill UD won’t pay: – “Fu**ing bullshit”, Norway
– Showing the flag is showing solidarity with a people who do not have the luxury of participating in a folk festival like Eurovision, but who fight a brutal battle for life every day, she adds.
The 35-year-old believes that the ban contributes to a representation that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is not as important:
– The anxiety surrounding this war, which is being investigated for being a genocide, is a dark chapter in human history.
– An extremely unfortunate signal
Tinashe Williamson (39) also had a strong reaction when she saw the news, and at first thought it was a joke. Williamson is provoked that Israel is allowed to participate in the music competition, and she is very disappointed by the decision on the flag ban.
– I think this sends an extremely unfortunate signal. I will be very disappointed. Raising the Palestinian flag would have been a great way to show not only Palestinians in Norway, but Palestinians in the rest of Europe that there are many people who support them.
Williamson is one of many who want to boycott this year’s Eurovision, and she plans to raise the Palestinian flag at home. Nor does Isabelle Ringnes have any plans to support this year’s final.
– I will undoubtedly boycott Eurovision this year. I think it is a shame that Israel is allowed to participate, and that you are now not allowed to show support for the people they occupy and kill in large numbers, strengthens the rationale for why you should boycott, says Ringnes.
I think there will be riots
Furthermore, in the justification of the EBU, it appears that those who try to take flags or signs with them will be stopped at the entrance.
Journalist Bahare Viken (30) believes that more people will defy the ban.
– I will be surprised if nothing happens. Someone will probably try to break a rule, and it will be interesting to see what people vote in relation to Israel, says Viken to Nettavisen.
There has been great concern about security when Eurovision is held in Malmö, and the police are preparing for strong demonstrations in the Swedish city.
Read also: Fires back after Palestine consequences: – My empathy, integrity and human outlook are not for sale
The guards who will let the public in have been instructed to stop people with Palestinian flags and signs with political messages.
– Participating countries’ flags may be brought in if they are not too large. Those are the usual rules, says Swedish EBU chief Martin Österdahl to NTB.
Only flags of the countries participating in Eurovision are allowed inside the arena, with the exception of the Pride flag. The EBU does not consider the Pride flag to be political.
The fact that Palestinian flags are not allowed, while Pride flags are, provokes reactions from Isabelle Ringnes:
– At the same time as other countries dance and sing in glitter and spandex, the Palestinians are dying by the hundreds and experiencing man’s worst nightmare. Who are we as a people if we just say that we should close our eyes to this and dance on, asks Ringnes.
– Unfortunately, we live in a time of many conflicts, and unfortunately it is not just the Palestine conflict now. As I said, the only reasonable attitude is that we bring the flags of the countries that participate, Österdahl further told the news agency.
Tags: Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision
-
