Palestine scarves are considered a political symbol of Sweden’s Riksdag, and have therefore been banned according to the rules of order.
But at Eurovision it’s free.
– If someone has a Palestinian shawl or painted nails, we will not stop them for that, says Ebba Adielsson, executive producer for Eurovision, to TV4 Nyheterna.
Yesterday, Swedish EBU head Martin Österdahl clarified that Palestinian flags – and all flags, in addition to the pride flag, which do not symbolize competing countries – are prohibited in the Eurovision arena.
The rule is not new, but it has come into focus this year as several artists and viewers criticize Israel’s participation in the competition.
“Apolitical arrangement”
Signs with political messages or symbols are also prohibited.
According to the organizers, the purpose is that it should not disrupt the production or take focus away from the competition.
– Striking symbols or flags that are not competing countries, we kindly but firmly try to remove if they destroy the production. If there is someone with a different symbol then we will not produce images there, says Ebba Adielsson.
So it’s about the television production itself, that it shouldn’t be shown there?
– We want this to be a non-political arrangement and then we would prefer that there is a focus on that. Not that you use it as an arena for political messages.
Palestine shawls do not count
Sweden’s Riksdag has decided that for them a Palestinian shawl counts as a political expression. They are therefore prohibited according to the Riksdag’s rules of procedure.
But Eurovision doesn’t think so. Palestine shawls will not be stopped.
– It is whether it becomes sensational, takes focus or destroys the television production itself.
So a Palestinian shawl is not political you mean?
– We have a policy where we want to avoid political messages during this competition.