The board of the Association of Composers and Lyricists (FTT) of Iceland has voiced its opposition to the participation of Iceland in the upcoming Eurovision held in May 2024; unless the Israeli Occupation is denied entry to the competition in similar vein to Russia being excluded for its military operation in Ukraine.

The Chairman of FTT urged RÚV, Iceland’s national broadcaster which organizes the annual music competition to select the Icelandic entry for Eurovision, to withdraw from the contest.

“It is our collective duty to take a stand against war and the murder of innocent civilians, including children. We always have a choice not to associate our names with such actions, whether we are individuals or state institutions,” the statement read.

“We owe nothing to those nations that exercise excessive force through military power and should not share the stage with them in events that are typically characterized by joy and optimism.”

Iceland has previously expressed displeasure at the Israeli Occupation for its intent to hold the 2019 Eurovision contest in Jerusalem, which was then moved to Tel Aviv after controversy.

Iceland’s 2019 team, Hatari, was also fined by the competition’s organizers after displaying a scarf with a Palestinian flag during the contest’s finale held in the occupied territories.