Austria Will Not Censor Palestinian Flags at Eurovision
Austria's public broadcaster ORF, which is set to host the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, has announced that there will be no ban on the Palestinian flag and protests during the performance of the Israeli representative will not be hindered. Emphasizing that the contest will be held within the framework of freedom of expression and democratic values, ORF underlined that there will be no interference with peaceful reactions throughout the event. The broadcasting organization also pointed out that while maintaining Eurovision's goal of being a music event free from political debates, the suppression of individual attitudes and reactions of the audience is not on the table.
The decision by Israel has led to a decrease in participation.
The organizers of Eurovision have announced that 35 countries will participate in this year's television music event, which boasts the world's largest audience and is scheduled for May. This figure is noteworthy as it represents the lowest level of participation since the competition was expanded in 2003.
The decline in participation can be attributed to the decision of Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland to withdraw from the competition. These broadcasters have expressed their disapproval of Israel's continued participation in the contest, highlighting the civilian casualties in Gaza following the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and arguing that it would be unethical to participate in the competition under these circumstances.
Despite the 'United Through Music' theme of the event, it is anticipated that the escalating diplomatic tensions and boycott decisions will significantly impact the atmosphere of this year's Eurovision. The risk of the competition being more associated with political debates than music is seen as a significant challenge for the organizers.
There will be no censorship on the flag, voices won't be silenced in the protest against Israel.
In the shadow of escalating protests, ORF, the public broadcaster of host country Austria, announced that it will not prevent audience members from carrying the Palestinian flag during Eurovision, nor will it intervene in potential booing when Israel takes the stage. The show's lead producer, Michael Kroen, stated that all official flags that comply with the law and do not pose a security risk will be permitted, emphasizing that their broadcasting policies will not involve censorship or manipulation. 'Our goal is to reflect everything as it is; we have no approach to exaggerate or hide anything,' said Kroen.
Stefanie GroissHorowitz, the Program Director of ORF, reiterated that, as with Israel's performance last year, audience reactions will not be suppressed or balanced with artificial applause. Highlighting that they will not manipulate audience reactions during the broadcast, GroissHorowitz stated, 'We will not use artificial applause under any circumstances.'
Both winners returned their prizes.
Former Eurovision winners, Swiss Nemo and Irish Charlie McGettigan, have announced their plans to return their championship trophies to the EBU in protest of Israel's participation in the competition. Nemo, last year's champion, pointed out that Israel's presence in the competition contradicts the values of unity and inclusivity that Eurovision claims to uphold. McGettigan, on the other hand, expressed his support for Nemo's call and stated that he would also return his trophy if he could retrieve it.
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