The musician was seen wearing a keffiyeh on his arm, a symbol commonly used to show support for Palestine.
In reponse, a representative of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said in a statement: “All performers are made aware of the rules of the contest, and we regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event.”
Despite facing criticism for its decision not to exclude Israel and worldwide protests condemning the organizers’ choice, the competition maintained its stance.
“Politics does influence the event from time to time,” said Paul Jordan, a contest enthusiast and researcher who was part of its communications team from 2015 to 2018, in an interview with CNN.
However, he noted, “the presence of Israel has become such a big issue (that) I think it’s going to overshadow the event.”
The news comes during Israel’s seizure and closure of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, which has raised concerns that already-scarce food and medical supplies will be further depleted and lead to a “catastrophic” humanitarian disaster.
I’ll add Eric Saade’s own response
Translated;
I got that shawl from my father as a little boy, to never forget where the family comes from. I didn’t know then that it would one day be called a ‘political symbol’. It’s like calling the Dala horse a political symbol. In my eyes, that’s just racism. I just wanted to be inclusive and wear something authentic to me – but the EBU seems to find my ethnicity controversial. It says nothing about me, but everything about them. I say as this year’s ESC slogan: United by music”.
OK now let’s try that with a different symbol:
I got that symbol of spirituality from my Indian father as a little boy. I didn’t know then that it would one day be called a ‘political symbol’. I just wanted to be inclusive and wear something authentic to me – but the EBU seems to find my ethnicity controversial. It says nothing about me, but everything about them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
I’m sorry your* family symbol is shared by Hamas. But to pretend that everyone will see that symbol and NOT think you’re pro-Palestinian is at best massively naive. You’re a grown-up now, so you have to start thinking and acting like one.
*addressing Eric, not Atomic.
You’re comparing a kefiya with a swastika?
Hang on a sec, let me check what I wrote…
No.
Checking what you wrote, yes.
Where exactly?
Are you purposely being obtuse? You wrote two sentences, do you want me to repeat those sentences? Do you have reading comprehension issues even deciphering your own words?
While it is true that there are (a) a comparison, (b) a keffiyeh, and ( c ) a swastika in my comment, the comparison is not between the symbols but between Eric wearing the former, and a hypothetical other performer wearing the latter, and both being supposedly unaware that their symbols would be regarded as political statements.
The shawl is not the official or adopted symbol for hamas.
Unlike the swastika which was THE symbol for nazism. It’s a symbol they used to identify party alignment, who is and isn’t a nazi. Same thing cannot be said for the shawl.
Palestine ≠ Hamas.
Since your entire argument hangs on us accepting the opposite, you should probably find a new one mate.
True, but it seems fairly easy to find images of Hamas fighters wearing the keffiyeh. So it’s not entirely inaccurate to say it’s shared by Hamas.