- Personal statements by international artists can be found here.
- In addition to the selection of international names in the Guardian, see the full list of British signatories attached to the letter here:
We, the undersigned artists from Europe and beyond, support the heartfelt appeal from Palestinian artists to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 hosted by Israel. Until Palestinians can enjoy freedom, justice and equal rights to all humans, there should be no business-as-usual with the state that is denying them their basic rights.
On May 14, days after Israel’s Eurovision win, the Israeli army killed 62 unarmed Palestinian protesters in Gaza, including six children, and injured hundreds, most with live ammunition. Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy and Human Rights Watch described the killings as “unlawful and calculated.”
Eurovision 2019 should be boycotted if it is hosted by Israel while it continues its grave, decades-old violations of Palestinian human rights. We understand that the European Broadcasting Union is demanding that Israel finds a ‘non-divisive’ location for the 2019 Eurovision. It should cancel Israel’s hosting of the contest altogether and move it to another country with a better human rights record. Injustice divides, while the pursuit of dignity and human rights unites.
Signed: (UK signatories)
Hanan al-Shaykh, writer
Amir Amirani, filmmaker
Bidisha, journalist and broadcaster
Nicholas Blincoe, writer
Haim Bresheeth, filmmaker
Victoria Brittain, writer
David Calder, actor
Carmen Callil, publisher and writer
Julie Christie, actor
Caryl Churchill, playwright
Ruth Daniel, artistic director, In Place of War
April de Angelis, playwright
Andy de la Tour, actor and writer
Tam Dean Burn, actor
Shane Dempsey, theatre director
Nancy Elan, violinist
Brian Eno, composer
Gareth Evans, curator and writer
Naomi Foyle, writer
Jane Frere, artist
Debbie Golt, broadcaster
Mel Gooding, writer and critic
Trevor Griffiths, playwright
Rachel Holmes, writer
Robb Johnson, songwriter
John Keane, artist
Reem Kelani, musician and broadcaster
Sarah Kemp, musician, Brave Timbers
A.L. Kennedy, writer
Hannah Khalil, writer
Judith Knight, producer
Peter Kosminsky, writer and director
Adam Kossoff, artist-filmmaker
Desmond Lambert, musician, Some Velvet Morning
Paul Laverty, scriptwriter
Mike Leigh, writer and director
Tom Leonard, poet
Ken Loach, filmmaker
Maeve Mackinnon, Gaelic singer
Sabrina Mahfouz, writer
Ahmed Masoud, writer and director
Kika Markham, actor
Julian Maynard-Smith, director
JD Meatyard, singer, songwriter, musician
Pauline Melville, writer
Jenny Morgan, filmmaker
Laura Mulvey, writer and filmmaker
Rebecca O’Brien, producer
Gary O’Dea, songwriter and musician
Leon Rosselson, songwriter
Yara Salahiddeen, singer
Alexei Sayle, comedian and author
Andrew Scrogham, musician, Brave Timbers
Nick Seymour, musician, Crowded House
Farhana Sheikh, writer
Sigmatron, DJ and producer
Chris Somes-Charlton, artist manager
Roger Waters, musician
Hilary Westlake, theatre director
Wolf Alice, band
Penny Woolcock, writer and director
Reblogged this on penelopap.
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It is utterly incomprehensible that the Eurovision Song Contest should be held in a country that is so devoid of any humanity towards the Palestinians.
With my own country of Cyprus still divided, I understand the trauma of being occupied.
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