Vienna, April 23 (SANA) More than 1,100 artists and production companies worldwide have called for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to take place next month in Vienna, in protest against Israel’s participation.
The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that a statement published on the website of the “No Music for Genocide” campaign gathered more than 1,100 signatures by Wednesday. Signatories include prominent artists and groups such as Massive Attack, Kneecap, Macklemore and Roger Waters.
The signatories called for the exclusion of Israel’s public broadcaster (KAN), saying it has “become complicit in crimes against humanity committed by Israel.” The statement also urged artists and production companies to join the movement opposing apartheid, occupation and genocide against Palestinians, and to withdraw their music from Israel.
The campaign said it represents a cultural boycott targeting Israel, which commits genocide. It added that more than 1,000 artists and production companies have geo-blocked their content and removed it from streaming platforms in the region.
It said the boycott campaign is “only a step toward meeting Palestinian demands to isolate and delegitimize Israel’s apartheid system,” adding that the cultural boycott of apartheid in South Africa demonstrated the influence of collective artistic action.
The Eurovision Song Contest, marking its 70th edition this year, is facing what organizers describe as the largest boycott in its history due to Israel’s participation.
Broadcasting organizations from Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia have announced their withdrawal, criticizing the war in the Gaza Strip.
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