Jyoty and Manuka Honey have cancelled their appearances at this year’s CTM festival in Berlin as part of the ongoing cultural strike, Strike Germany. The two artists join more than 850 artists and cultural workers who have boycotted German state-funded cultural institutions in response to the “intensifying crackdown” on those expressing solidarity with “Palestinians facing genocide in Gaza.” The announcement was made via a statement on Ravers For Palestine’s Instagram page, which also revealed that “more artists are expected to follow suit.”
Both Jyoty and Manuka Honey were scheduled to perform at the Berlin-based festival at the end of this month, with high profile slots at Berghain on January 26. The growing cultural strike was triggered by the German government’s decision to stop funding a project by a Palestinian organisation that it accused of anti-Semitism. Many opponents of the move see it as part of a broader attempt by the government to stifle free speech and cultural diversity. Artists and cultural workers taking part in the strike are demanding that the German government provides clear guidelines on how it defines anti-Semitism.
The cultural boycott of Germany’s state-funded institutions has also drawn widespread support from the international music and arts community. Notable signatories include Massive Attack, Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel, and Ken Loach. The boycott is part of a broader strategy aimed at holding Israel accountable for its treatment of Palestinians. Critics argue that the tactic unfairly punishes artists and cultural workers in countries that have no direct responsibility for the conflict.
However, supporters of the cultural strike say that it is the only way to raise awareness of what they see as the ongoing oppression and discrimination faced by Palestinians in Israel. They argue that boycotts, divestment, and sanctions are the most effective means of putting pressure on Israel to change its policies towards Palestinians. As the Strike Germany movement gains momentum, it is likely that more artists and cultural workers will add their voices to the growing international chorus of protest against Israel’s policies towards Palestine
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