15 May 12 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
An Iranian rapper has been issued with fatwas and faced death threats after releasing a controversial song. Shahin Najafi, an Iranian singer based in Germany, released a song containing references to one of the 12 Shia Muslim Imams. The song, which was posted on YouTube, offended some who claim it insults their beliefs, while others claim the song breaks taboos on expressing views about religious personalities. A religious Iranian website has offered a reward of $100,000 (£62,000) for anyone who kills the rapper.
25 Apr 12 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
A rapper has been sentenced to a minimum of three months in prison after releasing a violent music video in the UAE. The singer, known as Dangour, was arrested in June. In the footage, Dangour raps about drug abuse and his hatred of white people. A clip went viral on messaging service BBM, and several people complained to the police. The court ruled that the rapper created the video to make people scared of him and issued the “light sentence”. They added that it “harmed public decency and order and spread terror and panic among people”.
21 Mar 11 | Index Index, minipost
Radio broadcasters have censored lyrics to Lady Gaga’s song “Born This Way” to avoid contravening the country’s strict decency laws. Broadcasters have distorted the line “no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I’m on the right track, baby”. AMP, one of the biggest private radio networks in Malaysia, said that lyrics had been censored as a precaution because they “may be considered as offensive when viewed against Malaysia’s social and religious observances”.
01 Nov 98 | Magazine, Volume 27.06 November 1998
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