US rapper听 refused to cave in to demands from the German Open Source Festival that he denounce the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights.
As a result, he was听听from the July festival鈥檚 line-up.
Kweli says he refuses to 鈥渃ensor myself and lie about BDS for a check鈥.
Germany鈥檚 lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, recently passed a听听equating BDS, which calls for economic and cultural sanctions against Israel over its apartheid-like policies towards Palestinians, with anti-Semitism.
The smear, against a non-violent movement that rejects all forms of racism, prompted听听by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip and denunciation from across Palestinian society.
Modelled on the global solidarity campaign that helped end Apartheid in South Africa, the BDS movement听听all forms of bigotry, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Kweli revealed that he received an听听from Philipp Maiburg, artistic director of the听听in the western city of D眉sseldorf, highlighting the Bundestag motion and demanding the artist鈥檚 position on BDS.
鈥淎s you know, there are many discussions around the BDS in Germany and artists which have signed to it,鈥 Maiburg wrote. 鈥淭here has also been a lot of confusion even with much bigger festivals than ours.
鈥淭he new situation now is that since 17 May 2019, there is now an official statement from the German government signed by all parties which, basically, officially declares the statements and methods of the BDS as anti-Semitic.鈥
Although the Bundestag resolution is nonbinding, Maiburg said: 鈥淎ll administrations of regions or cities, as well as representatives of public institutions, are asked not to give BDS any room or platform.
鈥淎s we are also working with public funding we have no other choice than to ask you for an official statement concerning your position towards the BDS.鈥
Even though they could not be held in violation of any law, festival organisers may fear the pressure and vilification they would face for hosting Kweli amid the听听听听fostered by Germany鈥檚 media and elites and further fueled by the Bundestag vote.
The Bundestag resolution calls for withholding public funding from organisations that support the boycott movement or call into question Israel鈥檚 claimed 鈥渞ight to exist鈥.
Several German government departments are听听the festival.
Kweli said he was being asked to 鈥渄enounce BDS or else not perform鈥 and posted a public听听to Maiburg鈥檚 letter on his Facebook page.
鈥淏y lying and saying that BDS is an anti-Semitic movement, the German government is engaging in fascism and doing a disservice to the German people,鈥 Kweli wrote.
鈥淏oycotting, divesting and sanctioning are peaceful solutions to the crisis that destroys Palestinian homes and lives. It is the opposite of terrorism.
鈥淚t worked to make South Africa a fairer and more equal nation and it could work in Israel if its opponents were not so anti-black and anti-Muslim.鈥
Kweli unapologetically refused to abide by the festival鈥檚 demands: 鈥淚 would like to perform in Germany but I don鈥檛 need to. I鈥檇 rather be a decent human being and stand up for what鈥檚 right than censor myself and lie about BDS for a check.鈥
He also听听to affirm his stance after Israel supporters started attacking him.
鈥淭he German government is demanding that artists who perform at Open Source Festival, a publicly funded event, denounce BDS as anti-Semitic. BDS is not anti-Semitic. This is fascism. I will not be censored,鈥 Kweli听.
This is not the rapper鈥檚 first principled stance for Palestinian rights. In 2014, Kweli听听plans to perform in Israel after appeals by Palestinian rights campaigners. He has also voiced his support for Palestinian rights听.
Last year, Scotland-based band听听had their听听by another German festival for refusing to renounce their support for Palestinian rights.
The band called it a 鈥渨rong and deeply unfair decision鈥 to require artists to 鈥渄istance ourselves from our human rights principles in order for the appearance to go ahead鈥.
Palestinians subsequently听听for a boycott of the Ruhrtriennale festival.
Several artists听听the call and canceled their appearances.
Faced with the strong show of solidarity for Young Fathers, the festival听听and re-invited the band.
[Reprinted from .]
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