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Heavy metal is typically a western culture musical genre. However, in certain Eastern nations, heavy metal is much less accepted and often illegal. This is particularly true for strict Islamic countries.
Black metal controversy in Malaysia
In Malaysia, the government blames black metal music for a number of social problems, such as anti-social behaviour. The government believes the music causes teens to become disrespectful to parents and elderly, as well as lowering their respect for religion. The music was also deemed to be responsible for crime-related cases such as gang fights. As a result, the government has announced that it will ban black metal, and now does not provide permits to foreign bands.
Malaysia made news in 2000 and 2001 after public officials announced several arrests of "Black Metal cult members", in whose houses were found desecrated Korans and anti-religious material. Reports also surfaced of strip-searches conducted in public schools of children suspected of being involved in black metal. Children were also forced to drink "herbal cures" to purge their minds of the subject. This crack-down was led by the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir.
Black metal in Pakistan
As in many Muslim countries, Pakistani black metal bands have difficulties playing and recording. The Pakistani music industry has had a lot of revolutionary changes in the past 4 or 5 years. The most significant and appreciated change has been the construction of a community of unsigned bands and musicians creating music in their own ways, the Pakistani Underground. Heavy metal music was a genre that had never been experimented or worked with before.
References
- Brian Whitaker, "Middle East dispatch: Highway to hell", The Guardian, June 2, 2003 Online version
- "Malaysia curbs heavy metal music", BBC News, 4 August, 2001. Online version
- "Herbal cure for Malaysian metal fans", BBC News, 13 August, 2001. Online version
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