Organizers of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which is due to take place next Sunday in Sweden, announced today that they are prepared to remove all Palestinian flags and symbols with political connotations during the popular contest.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions over Israel’s participation in the annual music competition in Malmö, where large protests by pro-Palestinian groups are expected to draw attention to the issue, according to announcements.
Michele Roverelli, head of communications for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the competition, said visitors and participants were only allowed to bring and display flags representing the countries participating in the event, as well as the LGBTQ rainbow flag.
The EBU reserves the right “to remove any other flags or symbols, clothing, objects and banners used for the purpose of political instrumentalization of the TV show,” she told The Associated Press.
The Swedish news agency TT reports that anyone who tries to bring a Palestinian flag or a sign with a political message will be stopped by guards at the entrance.
Pro-Palestinian activists, who want Israel to be expelled from the competition, have announced large gatherings in the center of Malmo, a few kilometers from the venue of the competition – in the Malmo Arena.
Swedish police have warned that security measures will be tight due to terrorist threats in the country, Beta reports.
