DON: Musicians in Iceland on Monday asked their country’s national broadcaster to boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Competition if Israel is allowed to take part in the contest.
The Icelandic Association of Composers and Lyricists (FTT) has said TV channel RUV should stop its participation in the show if Israel is allowed to participate.
A statement by the FTT said it is its duty to take a firm stance against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children.
It said that the Icelandic musicians do not want to put their names to such things, whether they are individuals or state institutions.
It further said the artists of Island cannot compete with nations that act with military force.
The calls for a boycott have been supported by pro-Palestinian activists across Europe, while Ireland’s RTE channel has also received hundreds of requests for it to boycott the song contest.
The grand final of the competition will be held on May 11 in Malmo, Sweden, after Swedish artist Loreen won the contest for a second time earlier this year.
Israeli Noa Kirel, who was affiliated with Israel Defense Forces, came third in the 2023 competition, which took place in Liverpool in the UK.
The Gaza health ministry has said that 19,453 innocent Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza war so far mostly women and children.
