2 weeks ago
Organizers of nan Eurovision Song Contest said Thursday they reserve nan correct to region immoderate Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian symbols astatine nan show adjacent week successful Sweden.
The announcement came amid heightened tensions surrounding Israel’s information successful nan yearly euphony title complete its subject run against Hamas successful Gaza, now successful its seventh month. Pro-Palestinian groups are expected to shape ample protests successful Malmo to raise consciousness of their cause.
Michelle Roverelli, nan caput of communications for nan European Broadcasting Union that runs nan show each year, said summons buyers are only allowed to bring and show flags that correspond countries that return portion successful nan event, arsenic good arsenic nan rainbow-colored flag.
UKRAINIAN DUO HEADS TO THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST WITH A MESSAGE: WE'RE STILL HERE
The Geneva-based EBU reserves nan correct "to region immoderate different flags aliases symbols, clothing, items and banners being utilized for nan apt intent of instrumentalizing nan TV shows," she told The Associated Press successful a matter message.
She was responding aft Swedish newspaper Goteborgs-Posten reported Thursday that title organizers had banned Palestinian flags and governmental banners astatine nan event.
National flags are a communal show during nan title arsenic fans cheer connected their country’s acts and those they support.
The completed Eurovision shape astatine Malmo Arena is shown astatine a property convention successful Malmo, Sweden, connected April 25, 2024. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP, File)
The glitzy gala, which draws hundreds of millions of viewers each year, is hosting nan arena from May 7-11 successful Malmo successful confederate Sweden, pursuing past year's triumph by Loreen for its capacity of "Tattoo" past year.
Winners gain nan correct for their state to big nan pursuing year's event: Sweden is group to big for a record-equalling 7th time.
Swedish constabulary person warned that information will beryllium tight, citing a threat of terrorism successful nan able Nordic country.
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Pro-Palestinian activists who want Israel — a erstwhile victor — retired of nan Eurovision Song Contest person announced ample rallies successful downtown Malmo, respective miles from nan Malmo Arena title venue.
Last period Swedish police said they had received an exertion for a objection successful Malmo to pain a transcript of nan Quran earlier nan contest. Sweden raised its panic threat level past twelvemonth pursuing a bid of burnings of nan Quran that triggered protests successful nan Muslim world.
In caller weeks, spillover guidance astir nan world to nan astir 7-month warfare betwixt Israel and Hamas has fanned ample protests connected U.S. assemblage campuses and beyond.
