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FREEMUSE THEME 27 November 2007 Music & Islam – what's the big fuss? In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Taliban continues to attack musicians and music shops, but what is the position on music in Islam? For several years Freemuse has stimulated research and documentation on issues of music and Islam. For instance: Battling over the public sphere To begin with, we recommend you read the extensive introduction by Jonas Otterbeck, PhD in History of Religions. His 22-pages working paper is entitled: 'Islamic reactions to the music of today' Is music - or is it not - allowed in Islam? This article is primarily based on information from the Freemuse report about music and censorship in the Middle East, ‘All that is Banned is Desired’. The report is a summary of the Conference on Freedom of Expression in Music which Freemuse organised in Beirut in 2005: 'The burning music question in Islam' Beirut conference “There is no ban on music in the Qur'an” Shaykh Ibrahim Ramadan Al-Mardini, Islamic scholar from The Beirut Studies and Documentation Center, shares his insight concerning the topic Music & Islam: 'Islamic scholar rejects religious prohibition on music' Shaykh Al-Mardini 'Freemuse Ambassador' Salman Ahmad from Pakistan Salman Ahmad has been challenging the religious music ban in Islam, and was portrayed in a documentary film about the topic, 'The Rock Star and the Mullahs'. Together with his band Junoon he joined major artists from all over the world at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on Tuesday 11 December 2007. The concert was televised to 100 countries. Read more... Salman Ahmad Video Salman Ahmad visits Denmark: Focus on arguments against religious music prohibition The American author and historian Mark LeVine: 'Heavy Metal and Islam' Mark LeVine: 'Globalisation in the Middle East' Jordanian singer Ruba Saqr: 'Self-censorship among Middle Eastern musicians' Bashar Shammout: 'Freemuse and the Middle East' Music & Islam on freemuse.org Mark LeVine: 'Heavy Metal Islam' American author and historian Mark LeVine has published a book about the special role of Heavy Metal music in the Middle East and its relationship with Islam: 'Heavy Metal Islam' 16 July 2008 Somalia / Somaliland: University students obstructed music event The students of the University of Hargeisa rejected and obstructed a celebration for the World Music Day, which was scheduled to take place on 21 June, 2008 08 July 2008 Somalia: Bloodshed continues and music disappears Radical Islamist groups have unleashed a renewed crackdown on music, cinemas, and music-related events 04 July 2008 Sudan: Censored singer tries to reform Janjaweed 'hate singers' While struggling with censorship in Khartoum, the Sudanese singer-songwriter Abazar Hamid hopes to bring peace to Sudan with his music, reported Stephanie McCrummen 24 June 2008 Malaysia: Two singers deemed "unacceptable to Islam" The youth wing of Malaysia's opposition Islamic party will stage a peaceful protest if the two singers Mas Idayu and Ella are not banned from a 6 July concert 17 June 2008 Somalia: 30 musicians lashed by religious militia 12 years ago Somali woman singer tells the untold story of how, in 1996, local Islamic court's militia raided a concert in Mogadishu, and sentenced the musicians to 20 lashes each 10 June 2008 Iraq: Students are still hiding their instruments Students of Iraq’s Music and Ballet School still risk being attacked because of their love of music. This article summons the latest news from the musical life in Iraq. 05 June 2008 Saudi Arabia: Interview with founder of thrash metal band Faisal Al-Alamy is founder of the Saudi Arabian thrash metal band Octum. They released a demo entitled 'Fighting For Freedom' in January 2008 04 June 2008 Saudi Arabia: Musicians' freedom expanded There has been a quiet, yet marked increase in cultural activities in Saudi Arabia during the past couple of months. New music bands emerge and blossom on the internet 27 May 2008 Pakistan: Music breaks chains in North West Pakistan The melody of Pashto music that has been in chains for the last five years has now found a way to bless the hearts of its lovers with a renewed zeal and life 21 May 2008 Iraq: Religious restrictions cause singers to flee Iraqi singers are fleeing the country after dozens have been killed by Islamic radicals determined to eradicate all culture associated with the West 20 May 2008 Bahrain: Parliament's attempt to ban singer failed Bahrain's Islamist parliament members wanted to ban the Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe from performing in the country because of her sexy looks. They were not successful 05 May 2008 Iran: Setar master openly critised ban on women vocalists Musician Mohammad-Reza Lotfi said at a press conference that he wishes to eliminate Iran’s prohibition on solo vocal performances by women 28 April 2008 Somalia: Dilemmas facing Somali music and musicians Somali musicians struggle with financial hardships and self-censorship issues, and some are dying of hunger and diseases in Somalia 23 April 2008 Afghanistan: New media restrictions according to Sharia law A letter from the Ministry of Culture and Information stated that "everything which is against the Sharia laws should not be printed, broadcasted, audio/video telecasted" 21 April 2008 Nigeria: Actor jailed for releasing an uncensored music video The actor Adam A. Zango was imprisoned for producing and releasing an uncensored hip-hop video. The incident was a result of restrictions within the kannywood film industry 09 April 2008 Afghanistan: Restrictions on music discussed in parliament A commission for cultural and religious affairs in Afghanistan's lower house of parliament suggested to impose new restrictions on music and dance performance 02 April 2008 Maldives: 22 religious scholars say Islam prohibits music A video presentation showed the scholars against a backdrop showing a symbol of crossed-out musical notes, each saying in turn that they believe music is forbidden 25 March 2008 Afghanistan: Singer becomes symbol in the struggle for music freedom 18-year-old Lima Sahar has placed herself in the middle of Afghanistan's continous gender and music struggle. She could become the winner of the tv show 'Afghan Star' 13 March 2008 Kuwait: Music shops closed Music shops in Kuwait have been closed on the claim of defending morals and Islamic obligations, reported Arabic Network for Human Rights Information on 6 February 2008. 05 March 2008 Afghanistan - special report: The cage is singing Freemuse Special Report, 'The cage is singing', is an in-depth report with ten video interviews and a book about music censorship in Afghanistan - past and present 25 February 2008 Baktash Kamran Video interview with the lead singer in Kamran Music Group. He speaks about his experiences with music prohibition during the Taliban period in 1996-2001 25 February 2008 Ghazal Ahmadi Video interview with an Afghan film actress who explains that she stopped learning how to play the guitar because it became too problematic for her 25 February 2008 Nairez Video interview with one of the singers who were forced to sing praisal songs for the Taliban regime. He speaks about his problems with music censorship in this period 25 February 2008 Pakistan: Music and militancy in the frontier (radio report) This radio report tells about religious militants' attacks on music centres, and the reactions from the owners of the music business in Swat Valley of North-West Pakistan. 25 February 2008 The Middle East: New restrictions on satellite tv Freedom of expression in the Middle East suffered a major setback on 12 February 2008 when 21 information ministers of the Arab League agreed on a new satellite tv charter 20 February 2008 Yemen: Concert became courageous manifestation against terrorism Syrian singer Assala Nasry defied death threats by al-Qaida members in Yemen before her concert in Aden. The concert became a huge success. 19 February 2008 Afghanistan / UK: Film festival celebrates banned music A film festival in Edingburgh entitled 'Reel Afghanistan' celebrates the Afghan art form which was banned by the Taliban: music 18 February 2008 Yemen: Singer threatened to be killed if festival is allowed A new fatwa (religious edict) bans music concerts in Yemen and the Syrian singer Assala Nasry has been threatened she will be killed if she performs in the country 13 February 2008 Malaysia: Singer banned for showing bare chest On 13 January 2008, singer Faizal Tahir courted controversy by removing his shirts to his bare chest and also his belt live on television 29 January 2008 Afghanistan: Female musicians put their lives in danger A report from a music school in Kabul is a story about the kind of difficulties and dangers female musicians face in present day Afghanistan. They must work in secret 15 January 2008 Norway: Singer's brother under police protection Dancer Adil Thathaal received death threats from religious people with Pakistani background because he defended his sister, the singer Deeyah, in a recent interview 15 January 2008 Iraq: Film about the heavy metal band Acrassicauda The documentary film 'Heavy Metal in Baghdad' documents how Iraq’s only heavy metal band, Acrassicauda, had to escape the country and is now literally a band on the run 18 December 2007 Iran: Official campaign against rap music Iranian police have been instructed to close rap studios in an official nationwide campaign to stamp out "obscene" rap music, reported Agence France Presse and BBC News 04 December 2007 Music & Islam - what's the big fuss? In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Taliban continues to attack musicians and music shops, but what is the position on music in Islam? 27 November 2007 Afghanistan: Broadcast of Colombian singer censored A performance by the Colombian pop star Shakira has provoked a row between the Afghan government and the country’s independent media 20 November 2007 Jonas Otterbeck: Islamic reactions to the music of today A working paper, 22 pages in PDF-format, to be published as a chapter in the book 'Religion, Media, and Modern Thought in the Arab World', Cambridge Scholars Press Ltd. 13 November 2007 Palestine: Islamist reactionary groups threaten American pop stars Pop stars Madonna and Britney Spears will have their "heads cut off" if they continue "spreading Satanic American culture", threaten militant groups in Palestine 13 November 2007 Nigeria: Kano state bans all films from carrying music Kano state in northern Nigeria recently banned all films from carrying music, wrote Elizabeth Dickinson from Kaduna on 28 October 2007. 06 November 2007 Afghanistan: Bomb hits music shop A bomb exploded in a music shop in a small town in Eastern Afghanistan and hurt the shopkeeper 23 October 2007 Afghanistan: Famed exiled singer returned after 18 years One of "Afghanistan's living treasures", Ustada Farida Mahwash stepped foot in Afghanistan for the first time in almost two decades to give a series of benefit concerts 23 October 2007 Pakistan: String of bomb attacks on CD shops across the northwest province Religious militants have blown up numerous music shops in the northwest region. On 9 October in Peshawar a bomb blast damaged almost all 40 shops in Hussain CD market 11 October 2007 Pakistan: Attack on hotel where music was played Dozens of local Taliban extremists attacked and ransacked a hotel in Mingora in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, because people were dancing and playing music there 18 September 2007 Afghanistan: Wedding musicians out of work because of religious ban Musicians in the Balkh province are out of work since a new fatwa - a ban - was issued on wedding parties by a religious council in July 2007 30 August 2007 Pakistan: Taliban group issues new ban on sale of music If you sell music CDs and cassettes in Zargari and other areas in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, you will now be fined 50,000 rupees 23 August 2007 Pakistan: Religious music prohibition discussed in popular movie Feature film about a musician who gets inspired by a cleric to give up music for religious reasons became Pakistan's highest grossing movie of all time 06 August 2007 Pakistan: Religious extremists destroyed 25 music shops In June 2007 alone, there were more than 20 bomb attacks on music shops in north-west Pakistan. On 4 July, five more music shops were set ablaze with petrol 04 July 2007 Somalia: Young rap group rails against conservative Somali Muslims Waayaha Cusub, a group of young Somali refugee musicians in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, advocates freedom of musical expression in Somalia 12 June 2007 Middle East: Dossier on music, bans and censorship The internet portal Qantara.de has produced a dossier entitled 'Middle Eastern Musical Worlds'. It includes issues of music bans and censorship in the Islamic world 16 May 2007 Iran: Prohibition of music in holy city In a speech in official Friday praying on 11 May 2007 the Imam of Mashhad banned practicing of music and ordered to close all of the music institutes in the holy city 15 May 2007 Rabah Donquishoot Video interview with Rabah Donquishoot from the Algerian rap group MBS about the situation in 2006 concerning music censorship in Algeria 14 May 2007 Afghanistan: Music download shop attacked, two killed Two people were killed and several wounded by a bomb that exploded in a music download shop in Afghanistan's south-eastern town of Khost on 22 April 2007 09 May 2007 Pakistan: Intensified campaign against music Religious militants in north-western Pakistan continue violent attacks on property belonging to people who sell or listen to music 08 May 2007 Iran: 'Half Moon' - film about women's right to sing 'Half Moon' is a prize-winning feature film which talks of women's right to perform in public, and to participate in the artistic development of a land 25 April 2007 Iran: Six musicians arrested Authorities in Iran have reportedly detained at least six members of underground music bands and shut down their studios, Radio Farda reported 24 April 2007 Pakistan: Music business faces serious threats in North West Pakistan 1,200 owners of music centres have been warned by Islamic hardliners to close down, and on 21 April 2007, three more video and music shops were blown up by a bomb 23 April 2007 Bahrain: Freemuse declaration read aloud A request to Bahranian politicians in response to fundamentalist attacks on culture festival 18 April 2007 Pakistan: Religious extremists request radio to stop its music programmes Dera Radio was asked by unknown callers to stop it's music programmes because they are "un-Islamic" and "against shariate" 18 April 2007 Marcel Khalife's video statement - مارسـيل خليفة يَتحدَّث Video statement from Lebanese singer Marcel Khalife on the 'Spring of Culture' affair in Bahrain 11 April 2007 Pakistan: Music CDs burned in the streets of Islamabad Emotionally charged religious youth screamed slogans against perceived immorality as they burned a pile of music CDs and cassettes in Pakistan's capital on 6 May 2007 08 April 2007 Pakistan: Fear and persecution follows Afghan musicians The fear and persecution which forced Afghan singers to leave their country now has followed them to their exile in Peshawar in Pakistan 04 April 2007 Bahrain: Responses to attack on Khalife and Haddad Statements from Marcel Khalife & Qassim Haddad, Freemuse, and intellectuals from the Arab world regarding the attack on "Spring of Culture" performance in Bahrain 30 March 2007 Bahrain: Marcel Khalife causes fury among Islamists Members of parliament in Bahrain attacked performance by Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife as being a violation of Islamic morals and sharia laws 27 March 2007 Iraq: Musicians and music listeners get killed Musicians, music shop owners and music fans flee from death squads of Islamic extremists in Baghdad. It is no longer safe to sell music in central and southern Iraq 20 March 2007 Pakistan: Islamic music prohibition discussed on Danish tv 'Our prophet was born to do away with music', a mullah from Pakistan's second-largest mosque was quoted as saying on the Danish tv-channel DR1 on 18 March 2007 19 March 2007 Pakistan: Extremists kill one, injure two in music shop attacks Extremist religious groups intensify their campaign against all forms of entertainment in north-west Pakistan. Attacks on music centres left one killed and two seriously injured 18 March 2007 Bashar Shammout: Freemuse and the Middle East Video interview with the Bashar Shammout, member of Freemuse's executive committee. He speaks about music censorship in the Middle East, and Freemuse's work there 15 March 2007 Pakistan: Music and video shop blown away "Close within three days – or you will be blown away." This threat by the religious extremists became reality when a video centre was blown away on 13 March 2007 15 March 2007 Pakistan: Music centres threatened by religious extremists A campaign launched by a religious leader against listening to music has taken a dangerous turn in Swat Valley of North-West Frontier Province, reports our correspondent 10 March 2007 Pakistan: Fine for playing music in taxi, music shop attacked The Taliban in Pakistan's in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan are imposing a fine of 500 rupees for any one playing music in public, reports several news agencies 03 March 2007 Pakistan: Bus drivers threatened not to play music An organisation called Mujahideen Bajaur has warned public transport drivers in Bajaur region to stop the “un-Islamic act” of playing music in buses 28 February 2007 UK: Avoid 'harmful forms of music' in state schools, says Muslim council Muslim Council of Britain has published recommendations on how music lessons should be taught to Muslims in state schools in the United Kingdom 22 February 2007 Ruba Saqr Video interview with the Jordanian singer Ruba Saqr about the situation concerning music censorship and self-censorship in the Middle East 19 February 2007 Denmark: Focus on arguments against religious music prohibition Salman Ahmad visited Copenhagen in February 2007 to introduce the screening of the documentary film, 'The Rock Star and the Mullahs' 15 February 2007 Three films about music and Islam hit Scandinavia Pakistani rock star Salman Ahmad and editor Simon Broughton visit Denmark and Sweden in February 2007 to show three documentary films about music and Islam 24 January 2007 Jason Carter Video interview with musician Jason Carter about his experience of music censorship and music prohibition in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East 22 January 2007 Denmark: Politician requests “total boycott” of hip hop band Right-wing politician Kenneth Kristensen, chairman of the youth branch of Danish People's Party, called for a “total boycott” of the hip hop band Outlandish 14 January 2007 India: Complete ban on music in West Bengal village Since May 2006, no music has been played in the West Bengal village Kanupur because of a religious 'fatwa' on music 03 January 2007 Denmark: Religious reservations labeled as ‘censorship’ On 5 December 2006, two bare shoulders of a female Norwegian singer became ‘breaking news’ in Denmark with the headline: “Muslim censorship in music show” 05 December 2006 Iraq: 75 singers killed The Iraqi Artist's Association said that nearly 80 percent of the country's singers have fled the country and that at least 75 singers had been killed since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 29 November 2006 Syria: 'Silenced voices' In Syria, music is a mirror which shows the soul of the listener. A few young musicians perceive a magic language of sound which can touch the heart and make new thoughts spark. And this is exacly where their problems start... 07 November 2006 Mark LeVine: Globalisation and music censorship in the Middle East Video interview with the American author and historian Mark LeVine - about globalisation and music censorship the Middle East, and the effect of networking among musicians 30 October 2006 Mark LeVine: Heavy Metal and Islam Video interview with the American author and historian Mark LeVine who is writing on a book about the special role of Heavy Metal in the Middle East and its relationship with Islam 30 October 2006 Freemuse.org: Focus on artists from the Middle East Watch the new video interviews on www.freemuse.org recorded during the 'Images of the Middle East' festival which took place in Denmark in August-September 2006 30 October 2006 Maryam Mursal Video interview with Somali singer Maryam Mursal about music prohibition among Islamists 26 October 2006 Somalia: Confusion over music prohibition Do Islamist hardliners want to stop all music and sentence executives of a music committee to death? Or is the story invented with the purpose of making it possible to get asylum and economic aid? 26 October 2006 Iraq: Religious decree prohibits all kinds of singing In September 2006, a group of religious enforcers in Baghdad banned “music-filled parties” and all kinds of singing, reports Washington Post 12 October 2006 UK/USA: David Byrne about self-censorship in 1981 David Byrne and Brian Eno removed a song which features samples of Qur'anic recital from re-releases of their 1981-album 'My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' 12 October 2006 Iran: ’Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’ Excerpt from Chapter 8 in the report ’Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’ published by Article 19 in September 2006. Chapter 8 is about music in Iran: 05 October 2006 Iran: Report about art and censorship in Iran “Artists self-censor in fear of risking harassment, arrest, flogging, or worse still, imprisonment,” stated a report about art and censorship in Iran published by Article 19 05 October 2006 Germany: Cancelled Mozart opera show possibly reinstated The Berlin opera house which cancelled a Mozart opera show because of concern it could provoke violence by Muslims considers staging the production after all 02 October 2006 Afghanistan: Fewer music prohibitions on religious grounds Excerpts from a report on the situation in Afghanistan by U.S. Department of State, entitled “International Religious Freedom Report 2006”, released on 15 September 2006 28 September 2006 Germany: Opera show cancelled over fear of terror A warning from German security officials made a leading opera house in Berlin call off a production that features the severed head of the Prophet Muhammad 27 September 2006 Pakistan: Call for music centres to be closed MMA's member of North-West Frontier Province Assembly Zakir Shah has called for a complete closure of music centres during the holy month of Ramzan 26 September 2006 USA: Banned Musician speaks at Clinton Global Initiative Pakistani rockstar Salman Ahmad has been invited to speak at former US president Bill Clintons Global Initiative panel in New York on 21 September 2006 14 September 2006 Pakistan: Students protest against music classes Student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami intensifies protest campaign 13 September 2006 Pakistan: Two more music shops bombed Bombs damaged two music shops in a bazaar in Bannu in north-western Pakistan on 11 September 2006. Explosions damaging music shops are increasingly shaking up the area. 13 September 2006 Somalia: Islamists ban music in areas of Somalia According to an Islamic official in Somalia, music is now banned in the country, and anyone violating the music ban could be arrested, fined and flogged. Initially, a Somali radio station has been closed down for broadcasting love songs 12 September 2006 Clotaire K Video interview with BBC World Music Award winner Clotaire K about how he perceives music as a media 31 August 2006 United Arab Emirates: Popular music website blocked MySpace.com - rated as the third most popular website in the world - has been blocked in the United Arab Emirates, causing many grievances amongst Dubai’s internet savvy 17 August 2006 The burning music question in Islam: prohibited or not? The burning music question: Music... is it or is it not allowed in Islam? Can we get it straight? 09 August 2006 USA/UK: Deeyah speaks out about the unspeakable Freemuse hands the microphone to Deeyah - a pop singer and an activist with a serious message. She has placed herself in the crossfire of today’s most controversial, religious issues 09 August 2006 Oath to Vanquish Video interview with the Lebanese Death Metal band Oath to Vanquish, recorded in July 2006 - about their music and music censorship in Lebanon 08 July 2006 Xardas Video interview with Xardas, a 24-year-old Lebanese composer and producer of Dark Ambient music who had his new release confiscated by authorities in June 2006 08 July 2006 Lebanon: “Satanic music” regarded a security issue Composer and producer of Dark Ambient music asked by authorities to sign a paper promising that he will never send or receive any packages that contain “dark” or “weird” music 15 June 2006 Pakistan: Renewed ban on audio cassettes Local Taliban and religious leaders in North Waziristan on 11 June 2006 issued public notices that they will punish people listening to “un-Islamic” music 15 June 2006 Freedom of musical expression in the Middle East - report “All that is Banned is Desired” summarizes the sessions and discussions held at the Conference on Freedom of Expression in Music, Beirut October 2005. 06 June 2006 Afghanistan: Interview with Jamshid Matin X This is an interview with Jamshid Matin X – a presenter and producer for a daily music show and a Top 10 music show – who fled to America because of death threats 01 June 2006 Lebanon: Music producer called in for "investigation" Dark Ambient musician investigated on 2 June 2006 at the headquarter of the General Security department in Beirut, his music categorised as "satanic" and "offensive to people's morals" 01 June 2006 Pakistan: Music banned in Pakistani province In May 2006 a pro-Taliban militant cleric announced a ban on music and video shops in the Hamuzai area near Miramshah, residents said, according to the Pakistani newspaper, Dawn 18 May 2006 Afghanistan: Singing about women critised by imam Afghan DJ Besho has been criticised by an influential cleric among Afghanistan’s religious élite: "Singing about women and guns is certainly not allowed." 08 May 2006 Denmark: Teenager arrested for 'death rap' A 17-year-old teenager was arrested for sending death threats in the form of a rap song to the Danish politician Naser Khader, reports the news agency Reuters 08 May 2006 Sweden: Religious group attempts to silence music A group of young, religious men in Sweden act like as if they were an Islamic police force and try to prevent Swedish muslims from listening to music 28 April 2006 Pakistan: Ban on dance and music in schools A ban has been imposed on social functions featuring dance and music, particularly Indian songs, in educational institutions, reports Daily Times 24 April 2006 Iraq: Music stores bombed in Baquba Insurgents bombed three stores selling music CDs in southern Baquba, 60 km north of Baghdad, on early 2 April 2006 02 April 2006 Tunisia/Egypt: Najla too sexy for Egyptian tv The Egyptian music channel Mazzika will not air Tunisian singer and dancer Najla’s new music video because it is considered pornographic 23 February 2006 Pakistan: Explosion destroys music shops Suspected Islamic militants planted explosive material near a music shop in the center of the bazaar in Tanak district of North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan 26 January 2006 Mahsa Vahdat Video interview with female Iranian singer Mahsat Vahdat. Women, religion, and music censorship in modern Iran 17 January 2006 Algeria: Souad Massi - exiled voice of Algeria Algerian singer and guitarist Souad Massi is a celebrity with a growing global following. Her music was banned in Algeria which she fled in 2000 17 January 2006 Afghanistan: Strict self-censorship on Afghan music tv No rap and no sexy content. These are the rules for the producer of a popular music television program in Afghanistan. Interview 10 January 2006 Afghanistan: Tolo TV wins Reporters Without Borders' yearly prize Afghanistan's main privately-owned TV station, Tolo TV, wins the ‘2005 Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France Prize’ 12 December 2005 Indonesia: Inul Daratista has overcome censorship Inul Daratista's music career has overcome bans and censorship. Today she remains one of the most popular dangdut stars Indonesia has ever had. 12 December 2005 Pakistan: Festival defying Islamic hardliners The 10-day Lahore festival is defying Islamic hardliners but delighting the country's president with a vision of a very different Pakistan 02 December 2005 Iran: More than thirty concerts cancelled Iran is experiencing a cultural clampdown. In three months, from September to November 2005, Iran’s Ministry of Culture has cancelled more than thirty concerts in the country. 29 November 2005 Syria: Music censorship film wins award Film director Mohamad Malas' movie 'Bab El Makam' tells the story of a young woman, who struggles against a society which does not accept her love for singing 28 November 2005 Conference: Freedom of expression and music in the Middle East Conference on Freedom of Expression in Music in Beirut on the 6-8th of October 2005. The first regional forum of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. 25 November 2005 Salman Ahmad Video interview with ex-Junoon member Salman Ahmad about music prohibition among Islamists, and about music censorship in Pakistan 22 November 2005 Silence is death - Censorship in the Arab world 'Freedom of Expression in Music' conference in Beirut in October 2005 posed many questions but did it reach any solutions? 31 October 2005 Malaysia: Black metal music under attack Malaysian authorities see the music as part of “black metal cult” 28 October 2005 Saudi Arabia: Never write 'music' or 'violin' Words such as 'music', 'musician', and 'violin' are considered offensive in Saudi Arabia, reports Arabnews.com 25 October 2005 Indonesia: Musicians successfully say "No to the warriors of jihad" Ahmad Dhani and his band Dewa seek to rescue a generation from extremists 14 October 2005 Lebanon: Islamic scholar rejects religious censorship of music “There is no ban on music in the Qur'an," says renowned Shaykh (Islamic scholar) from The Beirut Studies and Documentation Center 14 October 2005 Afghanistan: Bittersweet success of secret girl band The Afghan girl group, ‘Burka Band,’ continues to receive media attention and draw new fans, even though they are no longer active. 13 October 2005 Kuwait: Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram banned Ministry of Information in Kuwait has refused a request for a concert for Lebanese Nancy Ajram and Kuwaiti singer Nabil Shu’ail. 29 September 2005 Afghanistan: Seven musicians killed by gunmen The popular singer Qhurban Nazar and six musicians have been killed by gunmen in northern Afghanistan, reports BBC News 26 September 2005 Pakistan: Pro-Taliban strikes against music shops Music shops ordered to close down - threatened with bombs and violence 08 August 2005 Afghanistan: 24-year-old female presenter of music show killed On May 18, 2005, ex-TV presenter Shaima Rezayee, 24, was shot in Kabul by unknown men. Her killing is possibly linked to her presenting of the music show ‘Hop’. 19 May 2005 Egypt: state censorship committee bans music videos Egyptian censorship authorities have initiated crack down on 20 music videos 01 April 2005 Egypt: Tunisian singer Najla refused entry Najla was shocked upon her return to Egypt that Cairo Airport Security would not let her enter the country 01 April 2005 Iraq: Students beaten to death for playing music Students have been beaten to death for playing music as Shia militiamen run amok, reports TimesOnline.co.uk 24 March 2005 Middle East: Hip-Hop on the frontline The rap form allows a powerful voice for political invective, and is being used on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. But for Arab countries and the Middle East, the influence and performance of hip-hop lights a few fuses 02 November 2004 Algeria: Cheb Hasni - popular rai hero assassinated Article on rai singer Cheb Hasni who was assassinated for his music by religious militants on 29 September 1994. 01 January 2001 Afghanistan: The talibans have banned all music Mr. Naim Majrouh's speech at the 1st Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship in 1998 01 January 2001 Sudan: Can't dance / won't dance? Mr. Peter Verney's speech at the 1st Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship in 1998 01 January 2001 The Situation of Musicians in the Arab World Mr. Bashar Shammout's speech at the 1st Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship in 1998 01 January 2001