Robyn, Fever Ray, and First Aid Kit are among more than 1,000 Swedish artists who have called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision 2024 song contest.
The musicians signed an open letter calling for Israel’s ban from the 2024 competition, which is currently scheduled to host its finale in Malmö, Sweden on May 11th. In addition to Robyn, First Aid Kit, and Fever Ray, other signatures came from fellow Swedish artists, dancers, producers, and songwriters, including Axel Boman, Refused, Viagra Boys, DJ Seinfeld, and Kite.
Addressing the European Broadcast Union (EBU), the letter outlines the collective artists’ frustration with the decision to let Israel compete in light of the ongoing war in Gaza. “The fact that countries that place themselves above humanitarian law are welcomed to participate in international cultural events trivializes violations of international law and makes the suffering of the victims invisible,” the letter reads.
“Allowing Israel’s participation undermines not only the spirit of the competition but the entire public service mission. It also sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences. Therefore, we appeal to the EBU: Exclude Israel from the Eurovision song contest 2024.”
The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the outbreak of war in October. The escalation has prompted the United Nations to urge Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and led to a myriad of artists calling for a ceasefire in the region, including Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Melanie Martinez, Massive Attack, and Fontaines D.C.
The open letter is the latest voicing of support for a free Palestine, and it mirrors a similar campaign spearheaded by Finnish and Icelandic artists calling for Israel’s ban in the Eurovision competition. In response to the letter, Eurovision’s Swedish public broadcaster (SVT) released a statement echoing the artists’ concerns, but claimed that they’re beholden to the EBU’s decisions.
“It is the EBU’s decision which public broadcasters may take part in the event, and as the host broadcaster, SVT follows the EBU’s decisions,” reads the SVT’s response. “As the host broadcaster, SVT has an ongoing dialogue with the EBU about the challenges of producing Europe’s largest TV-production in times of unrest. We are humbled by the task and are working to ensure the project can be carried out in the best way possible, with the vision that music unites.”
While the European Broadcasting Union recently referred to themselves as “an apolitical member organization of broadcasters committed to upholding the values of public service,” they did swiftly ban Russia from participating in the 2022 edition of the Eurovision song competition, and previously banned Belarus from the 2021 competition due to press freedom violations.
The EBU has yet to make a statement on the letters from Swedish, Icelandic, and Finish artists calling for Israel’s removal from Eurovision 2024.