NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) –
Dozens of Christian Orthodox believers erected wooden crosses and sang Church hymns outside Cyprus’ state broadcaster on Saturday to demand the removal of the country’s controversial entry to the Eurovision music competition – titled “El Diablo” – which they say promotes the cult Satanic.
Some of the protesters, including families, held up signs with the words in Greek: “We are protesting peacefully, not to El Diablo”, “Repent and return to Christ” and “Christ saves, Diablo kills”.
The announcer and singer of the song insist that it was misinterpreted and that the song is actually about an abusive relationship between two lovers.
The protest came several days after the powerful Orthodox Church called for the withdrawal of music that, she said, mocked the country’s moral foundations in defending “our surrender to the devil and promoting his worship”.
The Holy Synod, the Church’s highest decision-making body, said in a statement that the song “essentially praises the fatalistic submission of humans to the authority of the devil” and urged the state broadcaster to replace it with one that “expresses our history, culture, traditions and our demands. ”
Last week, police accused a man of uttering threats and causing unrest when he broke into the public broadcaster’s ground to protest what he condemned as a “blasphemous” song that was an affront to Christianity.
The state broadcaster insisted that the application will not be withdrawn, but its chairman, Andreas Frangos, acknowledged that the organizers should have done a better job explaining the central message of the song, the lyrics of which include: “I gave my heart to el diablo. .. because he tells me that I am his angel. ”
Even the Cypriot government has entered the controversy, with presidential spokesman Viktoras Papadopoulos saying that while dissenters’ opinions are respected, the government cannot nullify freedom of expression.
“The government fully respects creative artistic and intellectual freedom that cannot be misinterpreted or limited because of the title of a song, and unnecessary dimensions should not be attributed,” said Papadopoulos in a written statement.
The singer, Greek artist Elena Tsagrinou, said the song is about a woman who screams for help after falling in love with a “bad boy” known as “El Diablo” and coming to identify and relate to her assailant. Tsagrinou insisted that any other interpretation is “unfounded”.
“The song sends a strong message, against any form of abuse, like the one in ‘El Diablo’,” Tsagrinou told the Associated Press in a written statement. “In these ‘Me Me Movement’ times, this message is extremely relevant and can be felt not only in Cyprus, but also across Europe and beyond.”
She added that she is a Christian and that her faith is very important to her.
Addressing music detractors, Tsagrinou said “we must all embrace the true and intentional message of music” and that people are now moving forward with their own stories of abuse.
“Music unites and strengthens. We will focus on that and the important issues around us and leave misinterpretations and dark thoughts behind, ”said Tsagrinou.