Freemuse: Pakistan: The censored meet the censor

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About music censorship

NEWS
18 December 2003

Pakistan: The censored meet the censor Where in Islam does it say that music is forbidden?" In the BBC4 programme "The Rock Star and the Mullah", Salman Ahmad, guitarist with Pakistani rock group Junoon, meet the men who banned music. From BBC; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3322539.stm

Documentary and fiction is mixed in this film by Australian director George Gittoes who based himself in Peshawar for six months to talk to religious leaders of the region

20 October 2008

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

Pakistan: Music returns to some of Pakistan's tribal areas

In parts of Pakistan’s tribal areas, music is starting to return, reported Free Speech Radio News in a well-produced radio report on 16 January 2012.

18 January 2012

Pakistan: Threats from the Taliban sends sarod player into exile

Asad Qazalbash, Pakistan’s only accomplished sarod player, has left the country due to a declaration by the Pakistani Taliban that music is un-Islamic

22 August 2011

Pakistan: Musicians and artists are returning to Swat Valley

After a military operation against the religious extremists, artists are now returning back to Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, reported The Express Tribune.

26 November 2010

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

24 August 2009

Pakistan: 800 music shops bombed over three years

"No doubt this is the most critical phase in the history of our province," writes journalist Shaheen Buneri about the situation for artists in north-western Pakistan

09 July 2009

Afghanistan and Pakistan: Understanding the Taliban's campaign against music

Ethnomusicologist John Baily and Freemuse executive director Marie Korpe speak about the Taliban’s campaign against music and musicians in Afghanistan and Pakistan

23 June 2009

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

28 April 2009

Pakistan: Music has died in the Swat valley

Musical expressions are completely banned and ruthlessly discouraged in the newly founded Taliban state of Swat in north-western part of Pakistan

23 April 2009