(English below)
CPH:DOX har længe været anerkendt for sin progressive politiske og aktivistiske profil, men i år har festivalen skuffet os.
Vi anerkender og værdsætter, at festivalen i deres program har inkluderet film og talks, der repræsenterer den palæstinensiske sag og frihedskamp. Men i lyset af den vestlige verdens ekstreme negligering af Israels krigsforbrydelser, og af den menneskeskabte humanitære katastrofe der udspiller sig i Gaza, er fraværet af en klar og tydelig solidaritetserklæring dog øredøvende.
CPH:DOX udtaler, at der “ikke tages stilling til geopolitiske konflikter som vi ikke er part i”. Men hvorfor vælger festivalen ikke utvetydigt at erklære sin solidaritet med det palæstinensiske folk, og siger fra overfor folkemord, når den stod i entydig solidaritet med Ukraine i 2022 med det dedikerede program “Stand with Ukraine”?
At festivalen har valgt at ændre sit standpunkt i år, hvor et folkemord på palæstinenserne udspiller sig for øjnene af os, forekommer hyklerisk.
Vi kan ikke undskylde os med, at vi ikke er part i den såkaldte “geopolitiske konflikt”. Den danske regering støtter op om våbensalg til Israel, og lever ikke op til sit ansvar overfor folkedrabskonventionen, som den har pligt til.
Og uagtet hvilken grad af meddelagtighed i folkemordet som det officielle Danmark udøver, har vi alle en moralsk og humanitær forpligtelse til at sige fra over for folkemord. Det har store og indflydelsesrige kulturinstitutioner som CPH:DOX også.
Derudover undrer vi os over, at festivalen forklarer et aktivt valg om ikke at tage stilling til folkemordet med sætningen “Efter Hamas’ angreb…”. At starte samtalen med at pege på Hamas’ angreb, taler ind i magthavernes ensidige narrativ, som vi er blevet præsenteret for i en uendelighed. På den måde tager CPH:DOX allerede stilling. Præmissen kommer nemlig til at understøtte fortællingen om, at Israels igangværende etniske udrensning af det palæstinensiske folk skal ses i lyset af angrebet d. 7. oktober. Hvis festivalen ønsker at stå op for den nuancerede debat, som programmet lægger op til, bliver CPH:DOX i deres officielle udmelding nødt til at turde at vise samme forståelse for nuancer.
Endnu mere skuffende er det, at CPH:DOX udskammer pro-palæstinensiske demonstranter som “en gruppe vrede mennesker”, der står i kontrast til dem, der vil dialogen. Det er uværdigt. Hvis der fra magthavernes side var et reelt ønske om at lytte og støtte op om permanent våbenhvile, ville det ikke være nødvendigt at råbe op. Det samme gælder, hvis CPH:DOX havde haft modet til at tage afstand fra et folkemord, der pt er i fuld gang med at underminere den globale retssikkerhed.
Vi er skuffede over, at CPH:DOX vælger at udskamme de filmskabere og kunstnere over hele verden, der forsøger at overdøve magthavernes moralske deroute, i et opråb om respekt for menneskerettigheder og international lov.
At tage humanitær stilling; fordømme folkemordet og istemme sig et opråb om permanent våbenhvile har intet at gøre med at vælge side – det har at gøre med et fungerende moralsk kompas. Vi kalder på, at ledelsen hos CPH:DOX står ved de værdier, som deres program afspejler, og melder klart ud.
Kilder:
https://www.dfi.dk/nyheder/hvordan-placerer-man-sig-som-dokumentarfilmfestival-naar-verden-staar-i-brand
https://web.archive.org/web/20230331024218/https://cphdox.dk/cphdox-stands-with-ukraine/
Engelsk:
OPEN LETTER TO THE LEADERSHIP OF CPH:DOX
CPH:DOX has long been recognised for its progressive political and activist profile, but this year the festival has fallen short of our expectations.
We recognize and appreciate that films and talks representing the Palestinian cause and struggle for freedom are included in the program, however, in light of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, and the extreme injustice that Palestinians endure while the world takes no action, the absence of a clear and loud declaration of solidarity from CPH:DOX is deafening.
When discussing the recent events in Gaza, CPH:DOX have declared that they “do not take a stance in geopolitical conflicts in which we are not a party”. But why does the festival choose not to “Stand with Palestine” and speak out against genocide, when it stood in clear solidarity with Ukraine in 2022 with the dedicated program “Stand with Ukraine”?
The fact that CPH:DOX has made the decision to change their view this year, when a genocide of Palestinians is playing out before our eyes, seems hypocritical to us.
Furthermore, we cannot claim not to be a party in this so-called “geopolitical conflict”, while the Danish government supports Danish arms sales to Israel, and continues to fail to live up to its obligations under The Genocide Convention.
That said, regardless of the degree of Denmark’s complicity in the genocide, we all have a moral and humanitarian obligation to speak out against genocide. A cultural institution with the influence and size of CPH:DOX also has this obligation.
We question the festival’s decision to use the phrase “After Hamas’s attack…” when explaining their active choice not to take a position on the genocide. Starting the conversation by pointing to Hamas’ attacks speaks into the one-sided narrative of those in power that we have been presented with endlessly. In this way, CPH:DOX is already taking a stand.
The premise is misleading because it promotes the narrative that Israel’s ongoing cleansing of the Palestinian people should be seen only in the light of the atrocious events of October 7th. If CPH:DOX aims to support the nuanced discussions set by its program, it must demonstrate an equivalent appreciation for nuances in its official statements.
Adding to our disappointment is CPH:DOX’s characterization of pro-Palestinian demonstrators as merely “a group of angry people” who refuse dialogue. This is undignified. If there was real action on the part of those in power toward a permanent ceasefire, there would be no need to raise our voices. The same applies if CPH:DOX had the courage to condemn an ongoing genocide which undermines the framework of international rule of law.
We are saddened that CPH:DOX chooses to shame the filmmakers and artists around the world who are resisting the moral derailing of their governments by joining and raising their voices in defense of international law and human rights.
To take a humanitarian stand; to condemn the genocide and join in a demand for a permanent ceasefire has nothing to do with taking sides – it has to do with a functioning moral compass. We call on the leadership of CPH:DOX to stand by the values reflected in their program and to make a clear statement.