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ARTICLES PUBLISHED BY FREEMUSE Latests articles: Iran: Arya – the Victor Jara of my Homeland (12 January 2012) Senegal: Freedom of speech record under fire (22 December 2011) Pakistan: Under the censorship radar, anti-establishment songs flourish (02 November 2011) All articles by author's first name: Somalia: Music ban on radio stations was expected On 3 April 2010, the commander for Hisbul Islam in Mogadishu issued a 10-day ultimatum to radio stations to stop broadcasting music or face Sharia-based penalties By Abdulkadir M. Wa’ays 07 April 2010 Somalia: Music suppressor elected as president The Islamist cleric who was elected as Somalia’s new president on 31 January 2009 has a long history of silencing musical expression in Somalia, writes Wa'ays By Abdulkadir M. Wa’ays 11 February 2009 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 By Abdulkadir M. Wa’ays 10 June 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 By Abdulkadir M. Wa’ays 23 April 2008 Musicians and Censorship in Zimbabwe Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 By Albert Nyathi 12 May 2005 Egypt and Tunisia: The artistic revolution in the Middle East An article about music censorship and the role of music in the Middle Eastern struggle for democracy was published in The Observer on 27 February 2011 By Andy Morgan 28 February 2011 Algeria: Matoub Lounès - Berber Guerilla of Pop The story of the legendary Algerian singer who was assassinated in 1998. Chapter from 'Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today' (May 2004) By Andy Morgan 01 October 2004 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: By Article 19 05 October 2006 Myanmar/Burma: Music under siege Music provides a rallying point for the masses during political upheavals in Burma. An excerpt from the book 'Shoot the Singer': Chapter 6 By Aung Zaw 28 October 2005 Pakistan: Marked for death by the Taliban Interview with an exiled Pakistani singer in the US who wished to remain anonymous out of concern for the safety of his family at home in Pakistan By Austin Dacey 24 August 2009 Iran: Music gives hope Austin Dacey's article about the underground music scene and the system of music censorship in Iran, based on an interview with the rock band Kiosk By Austin Dacey 17 July 2009 USA: Government Arbiter or Catalyst for the Arts? Historical perspective on government funding for the arts. Article. By Cynthia Tse Kimberlin 05 November 2002 Turkey: New sound of Kurdish music after ban was lifted Aynur Dogan, once banned because of her Kurdish ethnicity, is perhaps the most recognizable of many Kurdish singers creating a new sound in Turkey By Daniel Bax 03 April 2006 Iran: Daniel Pearl: Status of music in Iran 2000 Link to an article in which Daniel Pearl describes the status of music in Iran in 2000. He interviews the Iranian pop singer Alireza Assar and composer Fouad Hejazi By Daniel Pearl 04 September 2007 Afghanistan: Wajiha Rastagar Interview with Afghan singer Wajiha Rastagar about how she sees the present situation in the country today By Dr Samay Hamed 30 May 2005 Malaysia: In League With Satan? - The Malaysian Black Metal Ban A personal account by 'Ed On 45', the editor of The Devil On 45 Zine which is published in Ireland By Ed On 45 23 September 2009 Syria: Ibrahim Kashoush - Silencing the singer A compilation of articles and excerpts revealing aspects of the late singer Ibrahim Kashoush’s life, and how his body was found. By Elie Chalala 21 September 2011 Zimbabwe: Censorship of Locally Recorded Music Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 By Emmanuel Vori 12 May 2005 USA: 'Crash into me, baby!' America’s implicit music censorship since September 11. Read the chapter from 'Shoot the Singer!', by Eric Nuzum on how the September 11 terror attacks have affected freedom of musical expression By Eric Nuzum 03 June 2004 Cuba: Censored rap group thrives on YouTube While songs of Los Aldeanos are banned on Cuban radio stations, YouTube has instead become their channel for expressing themselves By Esteban Israel, Reuters 19 May 2010 Women and Music Censorship - Past to Present Examples from all over the world of the censorship of female music during the centuries By Eva Fenn, Freemuse 25 April 2005 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 By Fariba Nawa, San Francisco Cronicle 15 January 2008 Turkey: A personal letter from musician Ferhat Tunç A personal letter from Kurdish-Turkish musician Ferhat Tunç who was appointed a 'Freemuse ambassador' in September 2007, about his relationship with the organisation By Ferhat Tunç 25 September 2007 Turkey: Ferhat Tunç continues his struggle Despite death threats and continuous court cases, Turkish singer and writer Ferhat Tunç continues to critisise the Turkish court system and the government By Ferhat Tunç 25 June 2007 Turkey: Testimony - the trials and arrests of Ferhat Tunç "1986: Arrested for political reasons. One week of interrogations, degradations and torture in the notorious prison camp DAL." Read the personal testimony of Turkish singer and human rights activist Ferhat Tunç By Ferhat Tunç 19 October 2004 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? By Freemuse 08 February 2011 North Korea: Three years in prison for simply singing a wrong song Because she had sung a South Korean folk song and taught it to four others in 1992, North Korean Ji Hae Nam (Hae-Nam Ji) was imprisoned for three years and tortured By Freemuse 09 June 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? By Freemuse 30 April 2008 China: Country profile In China, the censorship authorities act with the aim of protecting its citizens against "mental contamination" and its government against criticism. By Freemuse 25 April 2008 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? By Freemuse 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 By Freemuse 09 August 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 By Freemuse 17 January 2006 Turkey: "Keep Roj TV!" Turkish musicians protest Turkish musicians signed a petition against attempts to ban the Denmark-based Kurdish Roj TV. The Danish government has been under diplomatic pressure to effect its closure. By Freemuse 17 January 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... By Gabriela M. Keller 07 November 2006 China: Culture, Legislation and Censorship Excerpts from the article "Chinese Cultural Laws Regulations and Institutions" by Gao Shuxun (ed.) By Gao Shuxun 01 August 2003 Zimbabwe: Banned singer released her third protest music album Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak released her third protest music album, 'Happy 84th birthday President R.G Matibili (Great Son of Malawi)' on 21 February 2008 By Harriet Chigege 29 February 2008 White Noise Music - an international affair Hate Music. The story of modern racist music, covering cases from UK, Sweden and USA. Paper from the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998 By Heléne Lööw 01 January 2001 Nepal: Limitations on public performances for exiled Tibetans Tibetan refugees living in Nepal face different kinds of limitations of their music - some inflicted on them by Nepalese officials, others self-inflicted "cultural considerations" By Helle Sørensen 04 August 2003 Afghanistan: They play rock music in Afghanistan - and get away with it The multinational rock trio White City from Kabul explains what it involves to play rock music in today's Afghanistan By Helo Magazine and others 15 August 2011 Finland / Sweden / Norway: The destruction of a minority's music culture Ethnomusicologist Ilpo Saastamoinen shares his insight and personal experiences with the oppression of Sámi music culture By Ilpo Saastamoinen 21 April 2008 Belarus: Interview with Belarusian singer Ljavon Volski from NRM Interview with Belarusian singer Ljavon Volski. He is the lead singer in the rock and punk band N.R.M., based in Minsk By Ingo Petz 28 March 2006 Spain: Censorship of Basque musicians Over the past two years censorship of Basque musicians in Spain has steadily increased By International Basque Organisation For Human Rights 28 January 2004 China: Canto-pop Censorship in China & Singapore An edited version of a part of a thesis entitled 'Three Decades of Canto-pop: Hybridization, consolidation and Innovation', written for University of Liverpool in 2005 By Ivy Man 04 September 2007 Iran: Musicians are losing hope Members of the Iranian electronic rock band The Casualty Process spoke in the US about being censored and suppressed by Iranian religious authorities By Jamie Kim 01 November 2011 North Korea: Jason Carter - 'The Colour Of Silence' Excerpts from British guitarist Jason Carter's diary, 'The Colour Of Silence In The Axis Of Evil' - about his first performance in North Korea By Jason Carter 24 April 2007 Chile: Country profile Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America' By Jens Lohmann 25 February 2002 Argentina: Country profile Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America' By Jens Lohmann 25 February 2002 Cuba: Country profile Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America' By Jens Lohmann 25 February 2002 Mexico: Country profile Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America' By Jens Lohmann 25 February 2002 Dominican Republic: Country profile Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America' By Jens Lohmann 25 February 2002 Guatemala: Country profile Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America' By Jens Lohmann 25 February 2002 China: Jeroen De Kloet traces the politics of rock in China Fuelled by the new sounds that entered China's illegal doorways, new bands started to experiment with different sounds. By Jeroen De Kloet 06 July 2010 Iran: How they rocked in Tehran before the revolution On the occassion of two new albums with music of Kourosh and Googoosh, Jessica Hundley wrote an article for Los Angeles Times about music in Iran before the revolution By Jessica Hundley, Los Angeles Times 22 August 2011 Somalia: Silent airwaves – This is the sound of censorship Article about the situation in Somalia after the music died when, on 14 April 2010, radio stations in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu were ordered to cease playing all music. By Jessica Saxton 08 December 2010 Limits of Musical Freedom Which kinds of limits are there to the freedom of musical expression in the world today? By Johan Fornäs 07 February 2002 Jamaica / Denmark: University thesis on dancehall reggae and homophobia A university thesis which analyses Jamaican music culture in a postcolonial context was published in Danish language in March 2009. By Johannes Frandsen Skjelbo 20 May 2009 Ghana: Country profile A brief overview of the history of music censorship in the West African country Ghana during the last hundred years By John Collins 06 March 2006 Sierra Leone: Interview with Daddy Saj Freemuse interviewed Daddy Saj in August 2007 to learn more about his imprisonment and about music censorship in the country By John Sahr Sahid, Freemuse 29 August 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. By Jonas Otterbeck 13 November 2007 Korea: 'The people united' Music for North Korea’s ‘Great Leader’ and ‘Dear Leader’. Article. By Keith Howard 24 February 2003 Libya: Anonymity a growing trend among revolutionary singers Since the 17 February revolution began in Benghazi, new songs by unknown, young singers are being uploaded and distributed almost daily via the Internet By Khaled Mattawa 15 June 2011 Pakistan: Under the censorship radar, anti-establishment songs flourish Using humour and satire, song writers increasingly enjoy a new sense of openness and freedom of speech in Pakistan nowadays, reported Times of India By Kim Arora 02 November 2011 South Korea: Music and oppression in Korea in the 1970s In the history of Korean music, the 1970s was the darkest era. So many songs were banned, and so many musicians had to give up music, writes Kim Seon-joo By Kim Seon-joo 07 February 2011 Myanmar/Burma: Interview with exiled musician Mun Awng Mun Awng is a musician who left Burma to make music freely and in hope of improving the political situation in his country By Kristina Funkeson 01 July 2008 Zimbabwe: Profile of Thomas Mapfumo – 'the Lion of Zimbabwe' Throughout years of struggle, Mapfumo has been an important revolutionary figure in Zimbabwe – fighting with the power of music. By Kristina Funkeson 27 November 2007 Jamaica: Dancehall star signs the Reggae Compassionate Act Reggae and dancehall star Buju Banton is the fourth artist to sign the 'Reggae Compassionate Act' which is part of the gay rights campaign ‘Stop Murder Music’ By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse 09 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 By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse 07 August 2007 Sweden: Explicit lyrics cause heated debate about women’s sexuality After being banned on two regional radio stations, the lyrics of a song by Frida Muranius are debated in newspapers, radio, web forums and court yards all over Sweden By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse 11 July 2007 Argentina and Uruguay: Miguel Angel Estrella Article on the Argentinean classical pianist Miguel Angel Estrella who was arrested, imprisoned and tortured in Uruguay in December 1977. By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse 19 June 2007 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 By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse 27 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Blacklisted – My Personal Experience Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 By Leonard Zhakata 12 May 2005 Tanzania - Zanzibar: 'Give sex or be blacklisted' Why do we see and hear little of women musicians in Zanzibar? Report from an island where parents and husbands are at the core of strong 'cultural censorship' By Lingson Adam, Freemuse 24 April 2008 Tanzania: Political pressure and corruption silence musicians Interview with Tanzanian musician Muumin Mwinjuma who says political pressure and corruption lead to music censorship By Lingson Adam, Freemuse 08 April 2008 Tanzania: Self-censorship and fear in the "Island paradise" Threats and intimidations to critical thought expressed through music have reduced musical creations and performances in Zanzibar to mere entertainment function By Lingson Adam, Freemuse 22 January 2008 Tanzania: Pressured to stop performing for opposition party Interview with Tanzanian composer and performer Mzee Seif Thabit who says he has been censored for his alignment with opposition political parties By Lingson Adam, Freemuse 22 October 2007 Musical responses to 9/11: List of allegedly 'banned' songs A list of "lyrically inappropriate" songs banned from some US radio stations in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001 By Mark Armstrong 09 December 2004 Egypt and the Middle East: The musicians are taking incredible risks “Music has become a potent weapon in the struggles for freedom across the Arab world, but let’s bear in mind that the situation could change for the worse,” writes Mark LeVine By Mark LeVine 03 March 2011 Musical responses to 9/11: From Conservative patriotism to radicalism This article poses the question: What would a suitable American popular music response to the events of 9/11 sound like? Read the chapter by Martin Cloonan, from the book "9/11 – The world's all out of tune" By Martin Cloonan 09 December 2004 UK: Britain at War Extensive article on how music was "restricted" during the Falkland and Gulf war, with focus on UK legislation and corporate censorship. Presented by Martin Cloonan at the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998 By Martin Cloonan 01 January 2001 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 By Marvaiz Khan, Freemuse 04 April 2007 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 By Mary Lou Greenberg 06 April 2006 Hip-hop, black Islamic nationalism and the quest of Afro-American empowerment Paper from the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, Copenhagen 20-22 November, 1998 By Mattias Gardell 01 January 2001 Zimbabwe: 2,000 musicians unite in protest on Music Freedom Day Close to 2,000 music composers in Zimbabwe protest, asking the national broadcaster to stop playing music for six hours on this year’s Music Freedom Day By Maxwell Sibanda 03 March 2011 Zimbabwe before the elections: Airplay is only for the "patriots" While the radio keeps rotating songs that praise the current regime, opposition and dissenting voices are silenced, and things fall apart, writes Maxwell Sibanda from Harare By Maxwell Sibanda 10 March 2008 Zimbabwe: Music industry is dying slowly Zimbabwe’s current political and economic crisis has destroyed the once vibrant music industry By Maxwell Sibanda 28 October 2005 Zimbabwe: Music central tool in election As campaigning for the 2005 parliamentary elections intensified, music became central to the contest By Maxwell Sibanda 29 March 2005 Zimbabwe: Complete control - Music and propaganda in Zimbabwe The Zimbabwean government records 'praise music' to replace critical songs. Extensive article on Zanu PF and their use of music as propaganda, past and present By Maxwell Sibanda 20 September 2004 Zimbabwe: Censorship does not silence music Many songs of Zimbabwean music star Leonard Zhakata have been blacklisted by the state broadcaster. This has not silenced him, though By Maxwell Sibanda, Freemuse 03 June 2008 Belarus election: Blacklisted bands play in Poland The hope amongst the organisers and artists is that music can fuel revolution and bring about democracy in Belarus By Maya Medich 17 March 2006 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. By Meredith Holmgren 12 December 2005 Cambodia: Of Sounds and Survival – Khmer music 1975-1979 was a period of genocidal censorship throughout Cambodia – the music and musicians barely survived. Today, Khmer artistic cultures are in recovery By Meredith Holmgren 28 October 2005 Malaysia: Black metal music under attack Malaysian authorities see the music as part of “black metal cult” By Meredith Holmgren 28 October 2005 USA: Rap artist Kanye West censored on tv Rap artist, Kanye West, speaks his mind on live television and gets censored By Meredith Holmgren 27 October 2005 Chechnya: Recording songs of defiance and survival The compilation album 'Songs of Defiance' was recorded and compiled by Michael Church. In this article he tells how he was arrested while recording a choir in North Ossetia By Michael Church 21 May 2007 Indonesia: Ed Edy and Residivus face jail for singing 'dog' about police One song and the use of one word, 'anjing', has left the musicians of Ed Edy and Residivus facing 18 months in prison on the Indonesian island of Bali By Michael McAuliffe, CBC 26 February 2007 Middle East: Hip-hop is a soundtrack to the North African revolt Hip-hop plays a central role in the revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Libya. Rap songs create an important platform for communication creating moral support By Mik Aidt 20 April 2011 Turkey: Interview with exiled musician Fuat Talay Baglama-player and singer Fuat Talay speaks about how the Turkish authorities kept him in a police station's cellar for 23 days, and later on convicted him to 12 years in prison By Mik Aidt 04 August 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 By Mik Aidt 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 By Mik Aidt 27 May 2008 Zimbabwe: Protest singer Viomak challenges Mugabe's regime Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak challenges the Mugabe regime, and she is well aware that by doing so she puts her life at risk By Mik Aidt 30 October 2007 Crackdown on music in public space Many cities world-wide are debating whether music in public space is to be considered a form of noise pollution. Some ban, others encourage street performances and music lessons By Mik Aidt 16 February 2006 USA: Multi-media show about dangers of censorship ‘Freedom Sings’ is a critically acclaimed multi-media presentation which tells the story of almost three centuries of banned or censored music in America By Mik Aidt 04 November 2005 Governments against dance music Laws are in place all over Europe, in the USA and in Asia, "aimed at stifling dance music culture", according to music organisers By Mik Aidt 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. By Mik Aidt 13 October 2005 Afghanistan: Musicians unite against censorship 130 Afghans have established a new musician’s organisation, the Afghanistan Music Foundation, to fight against music censorship and oppression of musicians By Mik Aidt 25 May 2005 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. By Mik Aidt 01 January 2001 Kenya: Improved space for political lyrics Popular Kenyan singer and songwriter Eric Wainaina compliments the government for not trying to strain his freedom of expression By Morten Bonde Pedersen 29 March 2007 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings’ Policies on Censorship of Music Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 By Musavengana Nyasha 12 May 2005 Iran: Mahsa Vahdat - Singing in the absence of others Mahsa Vahdat speaks with Naghmeh Taqizadeh from TehranAvenue about the challenges of being a female musician and singer in Iran By Naghmeh Taqizadeh 18 December 2002 Israel: The Current Wave of the Wagner Debate The “pro and contra Wagner” debate in Israel is multifaceted and charged with much emotion. Article By Noam Ben-Zeev 20 May 2001 Tracing the Footsteps – Censorship and Music in Zimbabwe Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 By Nyasha Nyakunu 12 May 2005 Pakistan/USA: Salman Ahmad: Obama should listen to Pakistani artists As the Taliban silence music in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, Freemuse ambassador Salman Ahmad denounces the Pakistani peace accord with the Taliban By Ole Reitov 13 March 2009 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 By Ole Reitov 01 June 2006 Turkey: 'Censorship - the Turkish way' These original documents reveal the methods of official Turkish censorship By Ole Reitov 06 December 2005 Six articles on music censorship in Zimbabwe Prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe held Thursday 28th April 2005 at Mannenberg Jazz Club, Harare By Ole Reitov 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: A Case of Music Censorship Before and After Independence Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 By Omen Muza 12 May 2005 Taiwan, Province of China: History of Holo pop songs censorship Holo pop songs that were banned during Kuomintang rule took center stage in 2007 during a series of 'forbidden songs concerts' sponsored by the Government Information Office By Pat Gao 22 November 2007 USA: What if they gave a culture war and nobody came? Extensive article on the history of music censorship in the U.S., detailing the occasions when judicial and legislative authorities have focused attention on popular music as expression By Paul Fischer 28 January 2003 Angola: When the people's silence speaks A rare, detailed description of the present situation for a number of underground hip-hop artists in Angola. The article features an interview with the 22-year-old rapper MCK By Rafael Marques 01 March 2004 Jordan: Heavy metal musician: "We were rebels" Rami Abdel Rahman's personal account of his experiences as a young metal head in the 1990s heavy metal scene of Jordan By Rami Abdel Rahman 08 October 2009 Puerto Rico: Censorship on reggaeton genre The Dominican Republic contemplates a nation-wide ban on Reggaeton. The genre has previously been banned on radio in Puerto Rico, and albums were boycotted By ReggaetOnline.net & Freemuse 19 January 2006 Niger: Playing his music he was risking his life Members of Bombino's band were assassinated by the Niger government, and Salmou Bamaar lived with the knowledge that just by playing his music he was risking his life By Richard Marcus 01 June 2011 Iran: Rock artists struggle to breach cultural and bureaucratic barriers The Iranian culture ministry does not recognise rock music in its permitted music categories, and frequently rejects such work as culturally inappropriate, reports The Guardian By Robert Tait 29 August 2005 Syria: Interrogated and harassed for listening to metal music Young people in Syria are interrogated by the secret police if they listen to heavy metal music, writes Romuald Stankiewicz in this personal travel report from the country By Romuald Stankiewicz 29 March 2010 Senegal: Freedom of speech record under fire Senegal's enviable freedom of expression is under threat. Musicians are being harassed and recieve death threats for expressing their opinions through their music. By Rose Skelton 22 December 2011 Senegal: Rappers' quest for change During the last seven years, there has been a frightening rise in the number of censorship attempts on musicians, outspoken activists and journalists in Senegal By Rose Skelton 02 March 2007 Pakistan: 'Taliban have hijacked Islam', says Freemuse ambassador In an article published by Washington Post, Freemuse ambassador and singer Salman Ahmad and filmmaker Karam Pasha criticise the Taliban of hijacking Islam in Pakistan By Salman Ahmad and Kamran Pasha 28 April 2009 Turkey: Censorship Past and Present A historical approach to the nature of censorship. Article. By Sanar Yurdatapan 01 October 2004 Zimbabwe: No end to music censorship in Zimbabwe Hosiah Chipanga and Raymond Majongwe speak about their recent experiences with music censorship in the “new” Zimbabwe under a coalition government. By Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 07 September 2009 Iran: Arya – the Victor Jara of my Homeland Iranian journalist and poet Sepideh Jodeyri compares the life and music of imprisoned musician Arya Aramnejad with Chile's revolutionary singer, Victor Jara. By Sepideh Jodeyri 12 January 2012 Pakistan: Broad instability spelled an end to art in Swat Valley World Policy Institute has published an in-depth article about the development for artists in Swat Valley since 2007, written by Shaheen Buneri By Shaheen Buneri 14 September 2011 Nigeria: 'Leash on Their Tongues' Article on how music has been censored in Nigeria. Including the story of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti and their struggle against political and religious censorship By Sola Olorunyomi 01 March 2001 North Korea: Exiled because of passion for jazz Classical pianist Kim Cheol-woong (Cheol Woong Kim) had to flee North Korea to realise his dream of becoming a jazz musician By Stuff.co.nz 06 April 2006 Somalia: Interview with Somali music shop owner in exile Interview with Fatma Adow who is one of 25 women who on November 2008 faced the wrath of Somali militiamen the for taking part in a folklore dance galore in Somalia By Suleiman Mbatiah 10 February 2010 Poland: 'Censorship was overwhelming' Article about the radical rock counter-culture in communist Poland, written by Szymon Urbański, himself a punk-rocker of the 1980’s. By Szymon Urbański 05 February 2010 Myanmar/Burma: Music a vehicle for significant dissent Nine out of 12 songs on Thxa Soe's most recent album were banned by Burma's censorship board. Interview with Thxa Soe in the British newspaper The Guardian By The Guardian 26 April 2010 Iraq / USA: Interview with exiled oud player Interview with Iraqi oud player and composer Rahim AlHaj - a former political prisoner of Saddam Hussein who escaped Iraq and relocated to the US, New Mexico, in 2000 By Tom Chandler 26 November 2008 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? By Trevor Mostyn 31 October 2005 Turkey: Acquitted from 12 years' prison charge for political music album Turkish rock musician Yaşar Kurt's dissident song 'Korku', released in the late 1990s, resulted in his trial for treason where he was acquitted from a 12 years' prison sentence By Vercihan Ziflioğlu 25 October 2011 Europe / USA: Pressure on Muslim women to stay out of music When a woman tries to break into the growing scene for Islamic hip-hop in United Kingdom she is often intimidated, or even threatened, reported the New Statesman By Vic Motune, New Statesman 18 August 2008 Iraq: Violence against singers continues In Iraq, the clerics have conflicting opinions about music prohibition, writes Wisam Tahir from Nasiriya in an article published in The Herald Scotland By Wisam Tahir 09 December 2009 Russia: 'Government fights outspoken musicians, says rock singer Music censorship exists in full glory in Russia, the lead singer of the Russian rock group Televizor, Mikhail Borzykin, told SpinEarth.tv By Yuri, SpinEarth.tv 24 August 2009 Zimbabwe: How musicians avoid censorship In Zimbabwe, musicians manage to evade censorship by creating songs with double-meaning. And sometimes they get away with it, reports Freemuse's correspondent By Zenzele Ndebele 28 November 2007