Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest announced on Thursday that they reserve the right to remove Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian symbols from the show in Sweden next week.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions over Israel’s participation in the annual music competition over military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This year marks the seventh month. Pro-Palestinian groups are expected to hold a large protest in Malmö to raise awareness of their cause.
Michel Roverelli, communications director for the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the show each year, said ticket buyers could only bring and display the national flags and rainbow flags representing the countries participating in the event. .
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The Geneva-based EBU reserves the right to “remove any other flags, symbols, clothing, objects, banners, etc. that are used for the purpose of propagating television programs,” she told The Associated Press in a text message. told.
She was reacting after Swedish newspaper Gothenburg Posten reported on Thursday that contest organizers had banned the use of Palestinian flags and political banners at the event.
Flags are often seen at contests where fans cheer on their country’s acts and the people they support.
The completed Eurovision stage at the Malmö Arena was unveiled at a press conference in Malmö, Sweden, on April 25, 2024. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency, via AP, File)
The extravagant gala, which attracts hundreds of millions of spectators each year, will be held in Malmö in southern Sweden from May 7th to 11th, following last year’s winner for Laureen’s performance of “Tattoo.”
The winner earns the right for their country to host the event the following year. Sweden is set to host it for a record-tying seventh time.
Swedish police have warned that security will be tighter due to terrorist threats in the wealthy Scandinavian country.
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Pro-Palestinian activists who want former Eurovision Song Contest winner Israel to leave have announced a large rally in downtown Malmo, a few miles from the contest venue, Malmo Arena.
Last month, Swedish police announced that they had received an application to demonstrate burning copies of the Koran in Malmö ahead of the contest. Sweden raised its terror threat level last year after a series of Quran burnings that sparked protests across the Muslim world.
In recent weeks, large-scale protests have erupted on and off U.S. college campuses in response to the nearly seven-month war between Israel and Hamas around the world.
