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Turkey: NGO’s Working To Seek Turkish Return To Eurovision

A number of non-governmental organisations are working together to get Turkey to return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017.

QHA reports that a number of Crimean non-governmental organisations are working together to ensure that Turkey returns to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. The Crimean Tatar Organisational Platform, Crimean Turks Culture and the Solidarity Association are working to try to convince the Turkish national broadcaster to return to the contest next year.

A Turkish return in 2017 would be significant due to the cultural links between Turkey and the Crimean Tatars, the subject of Ukraine’s winning Eurovision entry “1944”. Crimean Tatars are a Turkic ethnic group that number between 0.5 and 6.5 million people, with a large population of Crimean Tatars residing in Turkey.

Jamala’s Eurovision victory was heavily reported in the Turkish press, with the singer visiting the country in August to give a concert for her fans. According to reports from earlier this month TRT the Turkish national broadcaster is still discussing whether they will make a return to the Eurovision Song Contest, with a decision due this month.

Turkey withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 in protest to the inclusion of jury voting in the contest. Reports at the time stated that Turkey had been due to withdraw from the contest in 2012, however attended the contest in Azerbaijan after intervention from the President of Azerbaijan. TRT has not broadcast the contest since 2012, despite planning to do so in 2013.

To date a total of 40 countries have stated their interest in participating or have confirmed their participation in next years contest. Only San Marino and Australia who competed last year are yet to officially confirm their participation. While Turkey and Slovakia are both yet to publicly state whether they will be competing in next years contest. Furthermore there are rumors that Kazakhstan may be joining the 2017 contest due to yet unrevealed rule changes by the EBU.

Source:ย QHA

7 thoughts on “Turkey: NGO’s Working To Seek Turkish Return To Eurovision”

    1. If I’m not mistaken they didn’t mention Eurovision for a long time last year either… Hopefully they will confirm participation soon.

      1. They return some time, look at Poland at JESC. After 12 years, after 2 years of participation and coming last.

  1. They’d better stay away from the contest. We don’t need crybabies that can’t accept ONE elimination in the Semi-Finals. These are the rules. 50% jury and 50% televote. You may qualify and you may not. If you don’t like them don’t participate. Their 2012 entry was horrendous and they should be ashamed of sending that to Eurovision. The fact that it qualified and placed in the top 10 is a disgrace. And it’s all because of the stupid televoters. That’s why I’m over a 75% jury and 25% televoting system.

    Take your diaspora and go home, Turkey. The only thing your participation has offered is sad memories.

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