A pro-Palestine campaign group held a demonstration at MediaCityUK in Salford last Saturday (December 1), to protest Israel hosting next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The Manchester branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign held the peaceful protest outside the BBC’s Salford headquarters on Saturday afternoon. The group is calling on the broadcaster to change the location of its flagship music competition.
Campaigner Aidie Mormech says Israel is “neglecting human rights” over its conduct in the ongoing conflict with Palestine.
Mr. Mormech added: “It is like some sort of reward which, we want to say, you can’t reward a country doing that.
“We hope that the BBC will not only think about this, but its coverage of the conflict overall. We don’t want Israel hosting the Eurovision as if nothing happened.”
Israel won the right to host the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest after its entrant, pop singer Netta, won this year’s competition.
However, debate about Israel’s actions has led to suggestions that the BBC should break with tradition and not broadcast the contest.
Protest outside the @BBC today in Manchester calling for the British Broadcasting Corporation to withdraw from Eurovision contest hosted in Apartheid Israel. @ManchesterPSC #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/XRs6vL6nTD
— Malik Ramzan Isra (@MalikRamzanIsra) December 3, 2018
The protest was part of a national day of action by pro-Palestine campaigners, which also involved students from 30 universities.
The campaign also called for universities and other companies to boycott Israeli businesses.
The Salford event was co-hosted by the local Jewish Action for Palestine group. Protestors demonstrated using traditional Palestinian music and dance.
The BBC have not responded to multiple requests for comment on the protest and their plans for broadcasting Eurovision next year.
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