Music streaming giants Spotify and Apple Music have unfairly removed the renowned Palestinian song “Ana Dammi Falastini” (My Blood is Palestinian) and other tracks by celebrated Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf from their platforms.
Both Spotify and Apple have come under fire for their bias towards Israel, targeting anything that remotely threatens Israeli sentiments.
The removal of the popular Palestinian song comes amidst allegations of incitement against Israel, causing outrage among netizens who accuse the platforms of lacking integrity. Many users viewed the takedown as an infringement on artistic expression and an attempt to silence Palestinian voices.
Addressing the issue, Spotify Arabia, the Arabic division of the music streaming corporation, took to Instagram on 17 May to voice their support for Mohammed Assaf.
They assured their users that the artist’s songs would be reinstated on Spotify soon. On the other hand, Apple Music has not yet provided a statement regarding the removal.
Mohammed Assaf, a celebrated Palestinian singer known for his patriotic songs, expressed shock at the removal of his signature song from the popular streaming platforms. He revealed that he received an official email stating that the track was deleted due to its alleged “incitement against the Zionist enemy.”
A spokesperson for Spotify has issued a statement that read,
Spotify aims to offer a wide range of music on our platform, but availability may vary over time and by country. The removal of some of Mohammed Assaf’s content was not determined by Spotify, but rather by the distributor. We anticipate its return in the near future and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
“Ana Dammi Falastini” was originally released in 2015 and has since become a symbol of Palestinian patriotism, often played at events celebrating Palestinian culture. It regained viral popularity during the social media movement in 2021, which focused on Israel’s occupation of Sheikh Jarrah.
Here is the video for the song.
