SINN Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy has renewed her calls for Ireland and other participants not to take part in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest which will take place in Israel.
In February Derry City and Strabane District Council backed a Sinn Féin motion brought by Councillor Duffy calling for Ireland and other participants not to take part in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest which will take place in Israel.
Councillor Duffy said: “In recent years, increasing numbers of major sporting, cultural and music figures have joined calls from the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, not to perform in Israel.
“This year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which is world renowned, is set to take place in Israel.
“In February we successfully brought forward a motion calling on the Council to support the campaign for Ireland and other participants not to take part in the contest this year in accordance with Derry City and Strabane District Council’s support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions policy.
“The motion called on the Council to write to RTÉ and BBC expressing concern at the continued slaughter and human rights abuse against the Palestinian people and urging them to boycott the competition.
“The Eurovision Song Contest should not be used as a tool for Israel to whitewash its daily human rights abuse, breaches of International Law through illegal settlement building and the murder of Palestinians in Gaza, which they have turned into an open air prison.
“The arts, music and indeed sport have a key role to play in sending a strong message internationally in rejection of the brutality carried out against Palestinians by Israeli state forces.
“We have an excellent opportunity to shine the light on the murder of Palestinians by boycotting the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Israel,” she added.
