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INDECENCY ISSUES Malawi: Broadcaster bans two songs for 'un-Malawian words' Because of erotic lyrics with "sensitive and un-Malawian words", Malawi Broadcasting Corporation has banned a Zambian and a Nigerian hit song 14 November 2011 Canada: Ban lifted on Dire Straits' song 'Money For Nothing' The ban on the 25-year-old song ‘Money for Nothing’ has been lifted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, and Canadian radio stations can resume playing the song 02 September 2011 South Korea: In the past two years 2,607 songs have been banned The South Korean Ministry of Gender Equality & Family has caused distress amongst fans for a series of bans they’ve made on songs considered ‘hazardous media’ to the youth 29 July 2011 Myanmar/Burma: New censorship restrictions on traditional dance troupes In order to weed out vulgar jokes about government officials, all Burmese traditional dance troupes are required to perform a full-dress rehearsal in front of a censorship board 14 July 2011 UK / USA: ‘Offending’ album title covered with sticker The British rock band Arctic Monkeys’ new album is entitled ‘Suck It And See’ - a phrase which causes a stir in the US where major stores will cover the offending album title 06 June 2011 Afghanistan: Official sacked over concert with singers without headscarves The organiser of a concert where the singers appeared on stage without headscarves was fired after religious elders had complained that this was inappropriate 08 April 2011 Uzbekistan: Rock and rap music denounced as ‘evil’ Uzbekistan’s state television issued an unequivocal denunciation of rock and rap music, saying it was epitomized by sadism, drug addiction and immorality 23 February 2011 Canada: Old Dire Straits hit song deemed unacceptable for broadcast ‘Money for Nothing’, a song by Dire Straits, was pronounced unfit for Canadian ears after a lone woman in Newfoundland complained about the word “faggot” in the lyrics 01 February 2011 India: Authorities close tv channel for broadcasting vulgar music videos The Indian Information and Broadcasting Ministry has closed a tv channel for seven days for showing nudity 19 November 2010 Germany: Expelled from teachers collage for playing death metal A singer from the death metal band Debauchery was given the choice of either abandoning his music for three years or quit the teachers college 10 May 2010 Iran: 80 young people arrested at illegal concert Iranian police detained 80 young men and women for "lustful pleasure-seeking" activities at an illegal concert, Tehran's chief prosecutor was quoted as saying 10 May 2010 Turkey: American music video banned for 'explicit sexual content' Justin Timberlake and Ciara’s music video for the song 'Love Sex Magic' was banned in Turkey due to its explicit sexual content. 14 September 2009 Nigeria: Proceedings against composer of banned song The singer Ala was arrested in Kano on 4 July 2009 for his song 'Hasbunallahu' which was banned by a mobile court judge linked to the Kano State Censorship Board 09 July 2009 Nigeria: 11 songs banned by Kano State Censorship Board A chief magistrate in Kano has banned listening, sale and circulation of 11 Hausa songs, described as obscene, confrontational and immoral 18 June 2009 Pakistan: High Court imposes ban on 'immoral songs' On 27 April 2009 the Lahore High Court imposed a ban on songs by two Lahore singers, deeming them 'indecent' and 'against the values of a Muslim society' 28 April 2009 Cambodia: Ministry outlaws obscene songs The Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has outlawed all songs with 'rude or obscene meanings' in an attempt to reduce the number of rapes and sex crimes 15 April 2009 USA: American pop singer pressured to rerecord song When American pop singer Britney Spears' hit song 'If U Seek Amy' risked censorship on radio stations because of a double entendre in the chorus, she rerecorded the song 15 April 2009 Kuweit: Concert closed for ‘defying the conservative traditions’ The Kuwaiti department for monitoring public entertainment abrubtly ended a concert by the Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni because of a kiss 23 October 2008 United Arab Emirates: American hit song banned 'I Kissed a Girl' provokes controversy and has been banned from radio stations in Dubai for containing lyrics that 'depict sexuality, lesbianism and promiscuity', reported Gulf News 20 August 2008 Turkey: Banned rapper did not back down In 2000, a song by Turkish rapper Sultana was banned, and she disappeared from the lime light. After an eight-year hiatus she is now back on the music stage 18 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 Tanzania: Authorities raise concerns over performers' style of dressing The National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) has threatened a ban to three dance and music bands for their stage shows' alleged semi-nude clothing 29 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 World-wide: Calls for censorship of 'indecent' songs Where to draw the line and when to actually ban a song because it is considered indecent, profane, immoral or offending against the recognised standards of propriety? 30 April 2008 Germany / Denmark: Controversy around erotic drawing on vinyl cover The rock band Baby Woodrose experienced trouble in connection with the re-issuing of Blows Your Mind. The printer refused to print the cover portraying a nude woman. 18 March 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 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: 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 India: American singer censored on tv Paris Hilton’s music video ‘Stars Are Blind’ has been banned because of “sexual connotations”. 24 August 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 Egypt: Ruby's music videos banned on national tv Ruby's music videos are banned by Egyptian TV for being too sexy, and she has been banned from holding concerts in Kuwait. 07 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 Ghana: Hiplife under attack Ghanaian business executive asks the National Communication Authority of Ghana to ban "profane music" on the radios 12 April 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 Kenya: Are musicians composing "dirty" songs just to please listeners? Editorial from The Nation on explicit lyrics: “Many people have accused the media of contributing to moral decadence by glorifying music with raunchy lyrics and giving minimal airtime to those with positive messages” 12 November 2004 United Arab Emirates: Satellite music channel bans “demeaning songs” The Arab satellite music channel Nogoom has decided to ban the airing of songs that are classified as ”inappropriate for the average viewers” 07 October 2004 USA: New fines proposed in indecency bills The bills would give the Federal Communications Commission the authority to fine recording artists, air talent and other individuals up to $500,000 for knowingly uttering indecent language on radio and TV 14 March 2004 Mariah upsets Malaysian Muslims Malaysia's Muslim opposition party has called for Mariah Carey to be barred from performing in the country 16 January 2004 USA: Feminist critique censored for indecency Sarah Jones’ song ‘Your revolution’ was censored for indecency. Ironically, Jones’s song is in fact feminist critique and a statement against indecency 30 June 2001