The Composers and Songwriters Association of Iceland has said it wants the country’s national broadcaster RUV to boycott Eurovision if Israel remains in the contest, Sky News reports.

This call is reminiscent of similar ones in 2022, when many countries called for a ban on Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.

“We all have a responsibility to speak out against war and the killing of innocent civilians and children,” say Icelandic musicians who are among those who want to apply the same rules to Israel as those used to ban Russia from participating in Eurovision. in 2022.

“We always have the choice not to put our names on such things, whether we are individuals or government agencies. We owe it to nations that act with the use of military force not to share with them an event that is always characterized by joy and optimism,” the Icelandic artists said in a statement.

The RUV told Sky News that there will be a demonstration outside the office on Monday afternoon over the issue.

Iceland has enjoyed relative success in the contest in recent years, with many suggesting that Dadi Freyr would have won the 2020 contest had it not been cancelled. The following year, he took fourth place.

Pro-Palestinian activists and groups have also called for a boycott, with Irish broadcaster RTE reportedly receiving hundreds of emails calling for a boycott of next year’s competition.

Israel placed third in the 2023 contest with Noa Kriel’s dance-pop song Unicorn. According to Sky News, Creel previously served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.