Metal fans jailed!

The stereotypical out of touch British judge claims to know nothing about "teenage beat combos". But they've got nothing on this loon in Morocco. From BBC News comes this disturbing story about the jailing of heavy metal fans and musicians.

The 14 men, all between the ages of 22 and 35, were convicted of "acts capable of undermining the faith of a Muslim" and "possessing objects which infringe morals". Their sentences of between one month and one year followed newspaper pieces which dubbed them "Satanists" involved in international devil-worship.
Nine of the convicted men were in three Moroccan heavy metal groups Nekros, Infected Brain and Reborn.

The case has highlighted concerns that the country's authorities are totally out of touch with young people.

French-language weekly magazine TelQuel particularly rounded on the judge for saying "normal people go to concerts in a suit and tie", not a black T-shirt with heavy-metal symbols that the court saw.

No doubt some people will use this as another opportunity to bash Islam, but it seems to me it's more the fault of a reactionary judiciary, egged on by the Moroccan equivalent of the "Daily Mail". The fact it's being opposed by others in Morocco is a positive sign, at least.

Andrew Ian Dodge has some further comments, and notes this is the sort of thing Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Tipper Gore would dearly love to do.

Posted by TimHall at March 07, 2003 10:17 PM | TrackBack

Comments

this is no more a problem for metal fans .now they are able to do wha ever the hell they want without any harassement or fear to be arrested by the goddamn autority.no body gives a shit.as a proof,there will be a metal concert on june 2005 where kreator will play on stage.moroccan headbangers are on the increase

Posted by: skali on May 7, 2005 07:24 PM


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