About music censorship Artists on censorship About Freemuse Publications Study room Activities News Links Press room

RELIGION Most frequently requested article on this topic The burning music question in Islam About religious music prohibition: Is music allowed or is it not allowed in Islam? Can we get a straight answer?   Articles and news stories concerning music and religious issues (most recent first): United Arab Emirates: MTV Arabia refrain from playing music videos MTV in the Middle East - MTV Arabia - announced on 20 August 2008 that it will mark the holy month Ramadan by refraining showing from music videos 01 September 2008 Somalia: Musician gunned down by militiamen On 21 July 2008, militiamen from the Somali Islamist groups, armed with pistols, gunned down musician Omar Nur Basharah in the capital Mogadishu 23 July 2008 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 Afghanistan: Short video about music and 'community censorship' In a short documentary video about music and 'community censorship' in Afghanistan, the 19-year-old Afghan singer Mariam says she gets verbal abuse all the time 14 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 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 France: Petition to remove ban on Roma music at religious festival An online petition seeks to have a ban lifted on playing music in the streets during the Roma people's annual pilgrimage in Saintes Maries de la Mer 03 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 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 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 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 Mari Boine Video interview with Norwegian and Sámi singer Mari Boine about her personal experiences with the religious ban of joik music 31 March 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 Sahar Afarin Video interview with a 21-year-old Afghan singer who explains how she has been discouraged from music due to pressure from many sides. 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 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 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 Pakistan: Musicians and singers live in danger A complete ban on all singing and dancing has been implemented in Mingora city in northern Pakistan. The singers and dancers have been thrown out of business 13 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 Taiwan: Ban on Tibetan rapper promoted sales of his album A religious group in Taiwan managed to get the government to ban the singer Singa Rinpoche from entering the country for one year. The ban only increased his popularity 30 October 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 Tanzania: Hip-hop musicians threatened by religious group 'Stern and prompt measures' will be taken against any musician who use the name of Jesus Christ in song lyrics, warned a religious spokesperson to the newspaper Majira 01 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 3rd Freemuse World Conference - report Read all the speeches and testimonials from the 3rd Freemuse World Conference on music censorship, held in Istanbul in 2006 20 August 2007 Iran: About 230 people arrested during a ‘satanistic’ music event As part of an annual summer crackdown on “immoral behavior” about 230 people were arrested during a police raid on an underground rap and rock concert 07 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 Freemuse: Religious fanatics a threat to music Freemuse presentation at the IASPM conference for popular music researchers from the whole world - in 2007 held in Mexico City 27 June 2007 IASPM Conference 2007: Speech by Ole Reitov Freemuse presentation at the IASPM conference for popular music researchers from the whole world - in 2007 held in Mexico City 27 June 2007 Vietnam: British pianist banned from performing Award-winning British concert pianist Stephen Hough has had a planned performance in Hanoi cancelled, evidently over his gay identity 30 May 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 USA: Printing plant refused to print 'satanic' album cover A forthcoming death metal album from Akercocke has caused uproar amongst religious groups in Ireland and USA. A US printing plant has refused to print 'satanic' material 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 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 Switzerland: Call for ban on 'satanic' Swiss Eurovision song A political party submitted a petition against the Swiss Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Vampires Are Alive', saying that the song's lyrics promote Satanism and the occult 28 March 2007 Tobago: Religious call for ban on gay pop star ignored Christian church leaders in Trinidad & Tobago demanded the British pop star Sir Elton John be banned from performing in their country because he is gay. The call was ignored. 28 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 Norway: Musicians persecuted in the name of God In a leading Norwegian newspaper, priest Carl Petter Opsahl lists about a number of cases where musicians have been censored and persecuted on religious grounds 05 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 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 3rd Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship 200 professional musicians, scholars, and composers from 22 countries met at the 3rd Freemuse World Conference on 25-26 November 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey 18 December 2006 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 USA: Singer’s religious imagery censored Crucifixion scene in a performance by American superstar Madonna is censored from NBC’s airing of the concert on 22 November 2006 15 November 2006 Eritrea: Gospel singer released in wheelchair After two and a half year of imprisonment in Mai Serwa army camp, gospel singer Helen Berhane who belonged to a banned evangelical church in Eritrea was released in late October, according to a statement issued by Amnesty International 08 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 India: Album recalled and destroyed because it offends Christians EMI Music has pulled the new album by the American Heavy Metal band Slayer from music stores across India because of protests from the Christian community 12 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 Russia: Radical Christians want pop concert banned Controversy and outrage follows American pop singer Madonna to her world-wide ‘Confessions Tour’ where she is “crucified” on a cross on stage. The act has sparked anger from various religious groups. 12 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 Musicians hit by the “9/11-effect” Tighter restrictions on air travel means that musical instruments are no longer allowed on the plane as carry-on baggage. This has lead to cancellations of concerts and tours 11 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 Malaysia: Blacklisted Heavy Metal band launches debut album After more than 20 years of performing, the blacklisted Malaysian Heavy Metal band Blackfire has finally released it's debut album, entitled 'Lahir Dari Api' on 6 June 2006 05 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 Serbia: Religious attack on Balkan orchestra Ten Muslim extremists donning long beards, short pants and white hats broke up a concert with Balkanika Orchestra in Novi Pazar, reports Belgrade radio B92. 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 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 Saudi Arabia: Journalist arrested for “destructive thoughts" Journalist who reported about ritualistic burning of musical instruments has been arrested by Saudi Arabia's domestic intelligence agency 11 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 Iran: World premiere of film about music censorship in Iran Documentary film on governmental censorship of music in Iran had its world premiere in New York in 2006: ‘Sounds of Silence – Underground Music in Tehran’ 04 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 Tibet: Last "singing nun" released from prison and exiled The release of 34-year-old Tibetan nun Nyidron marks the end of the imprisonment in Tibet for a group of women who became known as the "singing nuns" of Drapchi prison 26 April 2006 Tibet: Teacher of traditional Tibetan dance imprisoned A Tibetan monk and teacher of the traditional monastic dance Cham has been sentenced to four years in prison after he gave talks about Tibetan culture and history 24 April 2006 Iran: Gissoo Shakeri - “Voice of women who cannot sing" Singer Gissoo Shakeri's works are banned in Iran, but her songs can be listened to on the internet. Interview excerpt from Revolution, and lyrics from one of her banned songs 06 April 2006 Czech Republic: Bishop wants to ban secular music from churches Basing his decision on the Vatican's directive on church music issued in 1987, a Czech bishop intends to ban the Gustav Mahler's music 06 April 2006 Nigeria: Radio station restricted for playing song with political lyrics Freedom Radio in Kano has been sanctioned, possibly for playing a specific political song 03 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 Iran: Forbidden rap album becomes a hit A new album made by the group Dalu mocks the Islamic Republic's top clerics. It has taken the country by storm, reports Iran Focus 03 March 2006 UK: Tv channel bans music video because of threats Deeyah’s music video has been taken off air and banned by a British Asian tv channel as they received threats to their staff for airing it 27 February 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 Denmark / Tunisia: Danish orchestras cancel concerts in Tunisia Danish musician Chris Poole & Kasper Søeborg Duo and the orchestra Oriental Mood cancelled their tour to Tunisia due to fear that they will be attacked 13 February 2006 Malaysia: American music performance banned from tv Officials in Malaysia apparently found the dance and costume of American superstar Madonna so provocative that they banned it from been shown on Malaysian television 13 February 2006 Malaysia: Norwegian rock band banned from performing Norwegian black metal band Mayhem was scheduled to give a performance in Malaysia’s capital, but following objections from members of the country's parliament, the concert has been banned. 10 February 2006 Denmark / Morocco: Danish DJ boycotted in Morocco Moroccan night club has cancelled engagement of the Danish house-DJ Rune RK for “political reasons” 07 February 2006 Denmark: CD-album recalled due to fear of misinterpretation Launch of new Danish album has been cancelled because the cover shows Jomi Massage in burka-like outfit in the colours of the Danish flag. 07 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 Malaysia: Islamic authority bans black metal On January 23, 2006, the highest Islamic authority in Malaysia placed a ban on black metal – the rock music variant dominated by distorted guitars and occult imagery 25 January 2006 Eritrea: Two music shops shut down, singer imprisoned In December 2005, Eritrean police raided two music shops in Asmara. Popular evangelical Christian singer Helen Berhane has been jailed without trial since May 2004 19 January 2006 Mahsa Vahdat Video interview with female Iranian singer Mahsat Vahdat. Women, religion, and music censorship in modern Iran 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 Grenada: Christians want parang songs banned Callers to various radio talk shows want to have a ban placed on some of the offensive parang songs 31 December 2005 Iran: New ban on Western music in Iran New decree bans music that does not conform to Islamic doctrines and the spirit of the Islamic Revolution 21 December 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 Rèda Zine During Morocco trial rock and heavy metal musicians were accused of Satanism, "acts capable of undermining the faith of a Muslim" and "possessing objects which infringe morals". Interview in French 15 November 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 Palestine: Angry Islamists break up hip-hop concert with Kalashnikovs Stone-hurling and stick-swinging teenage Hamas supporters chased the rap group P. R., Palestinian Rappers, off the stage 06 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 Iran: Ministry rejects instrumental CD Ministry of culture says Western rock is the product of drug addicts 29 August 2005 Palestine: Death threats to popular musician in West Bank On the one hand, thousands of Palestinian fans want to hear Amar Hassan sing, and on the other he receives death threats and his concerts are harrassed and closed by armed militants for religious reasons 17 August 2005 Palestine: Taliban-like attempts to censor music in West Bank As a Hamas-led town council in the West Bank bans outdoor music and dance performances, musicians fear Palestine is liable to be turned into an Islamic-law state 17 August 2005 UK: Christians want opera banned “Religious censorship is in danger of strangling the arts”, says Richard Thomas - the composer of "Jerry Springer - The Opera". 16 August 2005 Pakistan: Pro-Taliban strikes against music shops Music shops ordered to close down - threatened with bombs and violence 08 August 2005 The music industry from the perspective of women About the music industry from the perspective of women, based on interviews with Myriam, a Senegalese rapper from the group ALIF and the singer Ajah Sy 27 May 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 Senegal seminar 2005 video English Didier Awadi, Myriam and Ajah on self-censorship, taboos, and the importance of constructive criticism. Video excerpts from Kristina Funkeson's interviews with the artists during the seminar on Music and Freedom of expression in West-Africa, held in Senegal 2005. 09 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 Abdul Samay Hamed: Censorship conference in Afghanistan In this interview the Afghan poet Zhakfar Hussaini explains the way song lyrics were censored in the communist periods in Afghanistan 26 February 2005 Newspapers divided on BBC screening of Springer opera Religion, sex and music is once again in the focus of controversy when BBC - despite protests from religious groups – decided to broadcast “Jerry Springer – the Opera”. Seen as blasphemous and obscene by critics, the opera is hailed as satirical by supporters. 11 January 2005 Googoosh: Iran's Daughter Googoosh was Iran's most famous and beloved pop diva, until she was silenced following the 1979 Islamic revolution. The award winning documentary on Googoosh is now out on DVD 14 December 2004 Breaking the Silence: Afghanistan documentary out on DVD Breaking the Silence - the award winning documentary from 2002 by Simon Broughton on music after the fall of the Taliban is now available on DVD 06 December 2004 Pakistan: Two South Indian dance teachers stand up to ban For the past 53 years, Indu and Tehreema Mitha have been doing the impossible in Pakistan: teaching South Indian dance to Muslim girls in a country where Islamic clergymen will not allow girls to dance 05 December 2004 Afghanistan pulls cable channels Cable TV channels showing raunchy Bollywood movies and foreign music videos have - again - been taken off air in Afghanistan by the government 12 November 2004 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 Iran: Concerts cancelled Bureaucratic obstacles have turned into a kind of musical oppression in Iran, reports Shadi Vatanparast from the Iranian web-magazine Tehranavenue.com 21 October 2004 Denmark: Religious fundamentalists obstruct concert A concert on 9 October, in Copenhagen, Denmark, arranged by the Somali network in Denmark was blocked by a group of religious fundamentalists. According to reports, the group told the musicians that “music is the work of the Devil” 21 October 2004 Pakistan: Grenade kills four listening to music at wedding party Grenade thrown into a wedding ceremony at Peshwar, killing four and injuring 35 people. The guests were listening to music 15 October 2004 Iranian hardliners cancel embassy music concerts A series of concerts organized by foreign embassies in Iran have been cancelled, apparently due to increased curbs on cultural events by the Islamic republic's hardliners 05 October 2004 Cat Stevens denied access "on national security grounds" US officials identified that the singer, whose name is now Yusuf Islam, was on one of their "watch lists". After an interview, the singer - who converted to Islam in 1977 - was denied entry into the US 22 September 2004 Iranian rapper talks a fine line Chart-topping Shahkar Binesh-Pajouh targets unemployment, poverty and westernised Iranian girls in his new album, which the culture ministry took four years to approve. The ministry passed it only after he deleted six songs from his original ten 04 September 2004 Iran: Lashes for loud music The judiciary in Hamedan has ordered that anyone caught playing thumping tunes in their cars should be subject to jail terms or lashes, according to news agency IRNA. "Playing any type of music loud in the vehicles is regarded as a crime and violators will be dealt by legal measures" 09 August 2004 Clerics condemn Kashmir pop song Religious leaders in Kashmir have sought a ban on a pop song by two Pakistani singers. A line in the song, Kachi Pencil (Fragile Pencil), says God has written the fate of man with a fragile pencil 03 August 2004 Afghanistan: The sound of music After the silence of the Taliban years, Afghanistan is beginning to hum again 27 May 2004 Shoot the Singer! Book "Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today". The first worldwide presentation of contemporary cases of music censorship, with cases from i.a. Burma, Mexico, Middle East, France, Algeria, Zimbabwe, USA, South Africa, Turkey. Edited by Freemuse director Marie Korpe, published by Zed Books, May 2004. 25 May 2004 Najwa Karam banned by the Lebanese Censorship Committee In March 2004, the Lebanese Surete Generale censored a video clip entitled "Why are You Emigrating?" by Najwa Karam, a well known singer. 02 April 2004 Censorship in Kuwait An Islamist lawmaker has said he was coordinating with other MPs to ban music education at schools in Kuwait because it was "anti-Islamic and a waste of time." 16 February 2004 Fresh Iranian bands ready to rock A music competition aims at introducing new talent in the Islamic Republic. But when you live and work in Iran, there are certain limitations on forms of self-expression 09 February 2004 Iran: Women & music censorship Background material on women in the performing arts in post-revolutionary Iran 20 January 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 Woman singer angers Afghan judges Afghanistan's supreme court has complained to the government over the appearance of an Afghan woman singing on state television. 16 January 2004 Afghan TV U-turn on women singers Afghan state television has gone back on a decision to show female singers, saying the country is not yet ready for such broadcasts. 16 January 2004 Afghanistan: Ban on local women singers lifted More than two years after the fall of the Talibans, state television has broadcast for the first time footage of an Afghan woman singing 14 January 2004 Pakistan: The censored meet the censor In the BBC4 programme "The Rock Star and the Mullah", Salman Ahmad, guitarist with Pakistani rock group Junoon, meet the men who banned music 18 December 2003 Music provoke islamists on Pakistan campuses A film student at Pakistan's biggest university in Karachi, produced a music video for his final-year project. But right-wing Islamic students opposed to holding art shows on campus attacked the student's exhibition and smashed the computer he had planned to use to screen it