NEWSLETTER 1 — 2009

Pakistan: Total ban on music in Swat
Musical expressions are completely banned and ruthlessly discouraged in the newly founded Taliban state of Swat in the north-western part of Pakistan. Hundreds of singers, musicians and women dancers have left for other provinces.
Read the reports from Freemuse's stringer in Pakistan:
www.freemuse.org/sw33496.asp

 
Freemuse: OIC should denounce music attacks
Freemuse urges the Organization of the Islamic Conference, OIC, to denounce attacks on music in the name of religion in OIC member states.
Read more:
www.freemuse.org/sw33342.asp

 
Google and record industry accept Chinese censorship
Music banned by the Chinese authorities will not be available at a new free Internet music download service launched by Google Inc. and major music companies. Providers will abide by Chinese censorship and withhold songs that are banned by the communist government, says Warner president.
Read more:
www.freemuse.org/sw33299.asp

 
Sweden: National Eurovision winner creates controversy
Popular radio channels normally promote national Eurovision Song Contest winners. But not this year in Sweden where the country's mezzo soprano winner is claimed to be 'unfitted' for mainstream radio formats.
Read more and listen:
www.freemuse.org/sw33541.asp

 
Cameroon: Singer Mbanga faces endless hearings
False evidence, delays and rumors appear to play an essential role in keeping the popular singer Lapiro de Mbanga in prison. In the meantime, Lapiro de Mbanga's health deteriorates.
Read more:
www.freemuse.org/sw33552.asp

 

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Find more information and news on freemuse.org

Freemuse.org features new articles and background documents on music censorship every week.
 
 
Recent news stories

• Cambodia: Ministry outlaws obscene songs

• Afghanistan: Music programmes lead to arrest

• Pakistan: Harmonium player Anwar Gul murdered by militants

 
Recent videos
 
• USA: Singer and musician Tao Rodríguez-Seeger
speaks about his personal experiences with and opinion about music censorship
 
• Sweden / USA: Freemuse Award to American singer Pete Seeger
Video report from the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on 3 March 2009, where Pete Seeger’s grandson, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, received the award on his behalf
 

 
Connect and interact with Freemuse
 
• myspace.com/musiccensorship
• facebook.com/profile.php?id=1260628251
• youtube.com/user/freemuseorg

 
 

Kind regards,

Freemuse - The World Forum on Music and Censorship 
Nytorv 17, 3rd floor
1450 Copenhagen K    
Denmark
Tel  +45 33 32 10 27
www.freemuse.org

Freemuse (FREEdom of MUSical Expression) is an international human rights organisation advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide.