Petition organisers call for WOMAD NZ to drop Ziggy Marley

The famous WOMAD festival is coming up in March, but a petition has been launched calling for headline act Ziggy Marley, son of the late Bob Marley, to be removed from the bill. The online petition, signed by more than 1500 people, raises concerns that Marley was part of a fundraiser for the Israeli Defence Force in 2018. Sakhr Munassar is a peace scholar and one of the petition organisers. In response, WOMAD chairperson Dion Tuuta says: "WOMAD NZ acknowledges those calling for the removal of Ziggy Marley from the WOMAD 2024 line up. We respect their right to express peaceful opposition to Mr Marley's participation. WOMAD NZ stands with all citizens of the world calling for an end to violence and war in the Middle East and all corners of the world."