'FalastinVision' held in Malmö to protest Israel

Before the final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, 14 local artists took the stage at a venue set up in the city's Plan B district.

FalastinVision organizer Ellen Hansson Khorsand stated in a written announcement that they found it appropriate to organize an alternative song contest for those who did not want to watch Eurovision.

Emphasizing that their contest is a "guarantee of no genocide," Khorsand said, "Our contest is organized to defend human rights and do what is right."

Pointing out that the Eurovision organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has lost its political neutrality, Khorsand remarked, "Because the brutal genocide taking place in Gaza cannot have escaped anyone's notice."

FalastinVision Secretary Fawz Nasser told an AA reporter that their goal was to highlight Palestinian culture through music and art, stating, "Eurovision invited Israel to the contest while the genocide is ongoing. We see this as a solution to show our standards to the world and to draw attention to Palestinian culture and the genocide through the music of the participants."

Palestinian artist Bashar Murad, who participated in the contest, expressed his happiness to be part of the event, saying, "This contest is organized to celebrate Palestinian culture, art, and solidarity. While Palestine is not allowed to take the main stage at Eurovision, Israel is allowed. That is why FalastinVision is being held."

Murad noted that they hope to draw attention to what is happening in Palestine through the event and to show that Palestinians have hopes, dreams, passions, culture, and art.

Yla Kroona, one of the spectators, emphasized that while Russia was banned from the contest following its attack on Ukraine, Israel, which is attacking Gaza, was not removed, stating, "We have to say 'no' to Israel as well because this is a genocide. This is not a war, it is a genocide."

News Source: AA