Culture

Iran cracks down on 'obscene' rap music

by Jarrett Martineau | December 3, 2007 at 03:37 pm

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Does your nation have problems with vice, violence, sin, and decadence? Blame the rappers. That's what Iran is doing. Tearing a page (or 100) from the Tipper Gore Guide to Rap Censorship (aka the PMRC), Iran is cracking down on rappers, recording studios, and music distribution. In the immortal words of Ice-T, this sounds a lot like: "Freedom of speech / just watch what you say."

So Iranian MCs take heed...Got a great idea for a great rap song? Want to record it, perform it? You'll need a permit.

In fact, why not go that extra step and just make the whole genre illegal. Yeah, that sounds about right.

The Iranian government has announced a campaign against rap music which it considers obscene.

The Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance said illegal studios would be closed and rap singers "confronted".

An official condemned rappers for using very vulgar words, but it was not clear if the whole genre was being banned.

Rap music in Farsi is increasingly popular among young men in Tehran, with lyrics covering political, social and sexual themes.

Iranians wanting to record an album or stage a concert need to get official permission.

Iran has officially categorised rap music as "illegal." According to Breibart.com, the Islamic country's hardline officials have declared rap a "cultural invasion" by "decadent" western music, complaining it diminishes Islamic values and traditions.

Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry Mohammad Dashtgoli made a statement saying, "There is nothing wrong with this type of music in itself, but due to the use of obscene words by its singers this music has been categorised as illegal. In coordination with the police, illegal studios producing this type of music will be sealed and the singers in this genre will be confronted."

Sigh..."Can it be that it was all so simple then...?"

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ifindtrends

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:46 on December 3rd, 2007

Jarrett Martineau, Good stuff. Wow. It is so hard to imagine what it's like to not be able to express yourself as many people are not for religious or government reasons.