103 artists condemn Germany’s trials to impose political conditions on pro BDS artists
Germany (QNN)- 103 artists, writers, and activists signed a letter on Tuesday condemning Germany’s trials to impose political conditions on artists who support Palestinian rights.
The letter condemned the removal of the African-American rapper Talib Kweli from the Open Source Festival in Düsseldorf, which led to the cancellation of his Germany tour, after he refused to denounce the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
“Attempts in Germany to impose political conditions on artists who support Palestinian rights, particularly targeting people of colour and queer artists, comprise a shameful trend of censorship, anti-Palestinian repression, and attacks on freedom of conscience”, the letter stated.
The signatories of the letter include Peter Gabriel, Naomi Klein, The Black Madonna, Patrisse Cullors, Liam Cunningham and Boots Riley.
“Denying Palestinians the right to non-violently advocate for freedom, justice and equality is anti-Palestinian and puts the Bundestag at odds with international law, with universal democratic principles and even with the formal position of the European Union”, the letter stated.
American rapper Talib Kweli has refused to cave in to demands from a German festival that he denounce the BDS – boycott, divestment and sanctions – movement for Palestinian rights. As a result, he was disinvited from the July festival’s lineup.
Kweli has said that he refuses to “censor myself and lie about BDS for a check.”
Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, recently passed a resolution equating BDS with anti-Semitism. A move which has been condemned by human rights activists as it violates freedom of speech.
