LONDON: The Sanremo Music Festival sparked controversy at the weekend as a result of an on-stage plea by one of the performers, Italian-Tunisian rapper Ghali, to “stop the genocide” in Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador to Italy, Alon Bar, said the festival, which is officially known as the 74th Italian Song Festival and is a major TV event during which Italy’s Eurovision contestant is chosen, was being exploited to “spread hatred and provocation in a superficial, irresponsible way.”
Expressing his disappointment, Bar said in a message posted on social media that festival organizers had missed an opportunity to show solidarity with the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, many of whom were young festivalgoers.
Ignazio La Russa, president of the Italian Senate and an MP for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, criticized the festival for allowing discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian issue in what he described as a one-sided manner, stating: “You cannot entrust the issue to a singer who expresses a one-sided statement.”
Noemi Di Segni, president of the Italian Jewish Community, also condemned Ghali for his statement, describing it as offensive to “the history of our country and the whole of Europe.”
Ghali’s comment came on Saturday during the final of the five-day festival. Asked on Sunday for his thoughts about Bar’s response, the rapper, whose parents came from Tunisia, said he had been discussing the issue since childhood.
He criticized the ambassador for his stance and said people are hesitant to speak out in support of peace in the current climate, out of fear about the possible reaction.
Mohammed Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association of Italy, thanked Ghali for “his clear words against the extermination” in Gaza.
Roberto Sergio, the CEO of Rai, the state broadcaster that airs the festival, expressed “heartfelt solidarity with the Israeli people” and said that “every day” the network remembers “the tragedy of the hostages at the hands of Hamas” and “the massacre of children, women and men on Oct. 7.”
Ghali was not the only performer to make an anti-war statement during the festival or voice support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Renowned Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti said: “Nearly 500,000 children live in conflict zones. No more blood, no more wars.”
Fellow Italian performer Dargen D’Amico said: “There are children under the bombs, without water and without food. Our silence is co-responsibility.”
D’Amico faced criticism during a follow-up event when he expressed pro-immigration views at odds with those of the Italian government.
Ghali’s “stop the genocide” call was edited out of Rai’s coverage of the Sanremo event, and a post-performance interview with D’Amico was shortened. The broadcaster faced a backlash on social media and accusations of censorship.
The winner of contest was Angelina Mango, with the song “La Noia (The Boredom).” She will represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
