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Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT sharply criticized the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Friday after the organization confirmed Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, a decision that has triggered growing backlash across Europe.
During a meeting in Geneva, the EBU adopted new contest rules. TRT said several member states, including Türkiye, had requested a secret vote, but the EBU declined to put Israel’s participation to a separate vote—effectively ensuring its inclusion in the competition.
TRT’s Director of International Relations, Mustafa Saritas, condemned the outcome, saying Israel had been committing “a systematic genocide” against civilians in Palestine.
He said allowing Israel’s broadcaster KAN to participate was “neither appropriate nor compatible with Eurovision’s values.”
“Like everyone in this hall, we at TRT have witnessed a decades-long persecution and a genocide unfolding before the world’s eyes,” Saritas said. “Since the so-called ceasefire began, dozens of children have been killed, and aid still cannot reach Gaza safely. More than 270 journalists have been killed by Israel.”
“Our stance is clear: allowing KAN to participate is neither appropriate nor compatible with the values of this contest,” he added.
Following TRT’s remarks, public broadcasters in the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and Ireland announced they would withdraw from the event in protest.
Ireland’s RTE said participation was “unconscionable” amid mass civilian casualties in Gaza and what it described as systematic targeting of noncombatants.
Slovenia’s RTV stated it would not broadcast the contest, while Spain, one of the founding members of Eurovision, accused Israel of using the event for political purposes and declared it would not take part.
When a representative from KAN took the floor during the Geneva meeting, delegations from TRT and Algeria walked out in protest.
Germany and Austria, in contrast, voiced support for Israel’s continued participation.
EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci later issued a statement emphasizing transparency and trust, but her comments failed to ease the growing backlash.
Public criticism of the decision continues to mount across Europe as more broadcasters reconsider their participation in the 2025 contest.
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