Iceland launches probe after Palestinian singer’s failure to qualify for Eurovision finals sparks criticism

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) – Iceland has decided to conduct an independent investigation into the conduct of the voting in the country’s finals for this year’s Eurovision song contest, local media reported Monday.

A Palestinian pop singer, Bashar Murad, had progressed to the finals of Iceland’s Eurovision competition and was one of the favorites to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden in May.

The Eurovision contest results in Iceland sparked widespread criticism in the country as Murad won the first round of voting but lost to Hera Bjork and her song Scared of Heights in the second round.

Many viewers expressed concern about voting irregularities, claiming that votes for Murad were counted for Bjork instead, with Murad’s team demanding an independent investigation into the results, according to Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV.

RUV released a statement in which it admitted that there were errors in the voting process. It said, however, that the difference in the number of votes between first and second place was so insignificant that the final result still stands as valid.

Following the controversy, one of the songwriters for Scared of Heights, Asdis Maria Vioarsdottir, decided to cut ties with Bjork’s team and to not be part of the song contest in Malmo.

Vioarsdottir said she is not satisfied with RUV's explanation regarding the conduct of the contest's voting and that because of her conscience, she cannot follow the song in the Eurovision final if that is the end result, according to RUV.

"My conscience just doesn't allow it," she said, adding that Murad should represent the country instead at the Eurovision final.

"I have been very clear in my position that there are doubts about the results. There have been legitimate comments about the conduct of the vote, and I feel that RUV has not given clear answers," said Vioarsdottir.

Murad, who is originally from East Jerusalem and who previously studied at the Rimon School of Music in Israel, performed a song titled Wild West and had appeared on stage with images of watermelons, which are normally associated with the Palestinian struggle.

He is known for addressing themes of the Israeli occupation through his music and told local reporters that the song and the music video which he recently released is also about the Palestinian struggle.

“Wild West is about longing for freedom of movement and not letting oneself be confined by the physical and imaginary borders that bind us. It’s about my journey from Palestine to Iceland that started as an idea in my bedroom and became a reality thanks to the collaboration with my Icelandic family.

“I believe in using my voice and the tools that the universe has given me. Eurovision is one of the biggest platforms in the world, and I believe in the power of my voice rather than being silenced,” he said.

The board of the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers (FTT) had publicly called on RUV in December not to take part in the song contest unless “Israel is denied participation in the competition on the same grounds as Russia in the last competition,” FTT’s General Director Stefan Eiriksson said in a letter sent to RUV.

Russia was barred from the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest held in Turin, Italy after neighboring Finland threatened to pull out their performer unless Russia was banned due to Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine that same year.

“We all have a duty to take a stand against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children,” Eiriksson said.

“We owe it to those nations that act with force through military might not to share the stage in an event that is always characterized by joy and optimism,” he added.

The pop artist had also collaborated in the past with Iceland's past Eurovision act Hatari, known for their outspoken opposition to Israeli occupation and who raised Palestinian flags during their appearance at the show held in Israel in 2019.