Malaysia bans metal as un-Islamic. For those about to rock: jail

Tiara S. from Malaysia says, "Here's an update on the whole Black Metal saga in Malaysia. The government has banned 'Black Metal culture,' and whoever's suspected of practicing it could be arrested."

Snip from story in Malaysia's Star newspaper:

Black Metal culture has been declared as a deviation from Islamic teachings and those found practising it could be penalised under syariah law. The National Fatwa Council ruled that Black Metal culture was totally against the syariat (Islamic principles) and could lead its followers to being murtad (apostate). The council issued the decree after deliberating on the matter at its bi-monthly meeting yesterday.

“We discussed the issue at length to understand what Black Metal is all about and its effect on our culture,” council chairman Prof Datuk Shukor Husin told newsmen after the meeting. “It has been established that Black Metal practices are way against the syariat and every effort must be taken to stop its spread.”

Link to report. Link to blog for the Council of Independent Journalism, where you'll find a good collection of media reports on the Black Metal crackdown in Malaysia.

Image: JITU, an early 90's hair / thrash / power ballad / metal band from Malaysia. Proto-Malay-metal bands in those years also faced censorship and government bans. (Thanks, DJ Carlito!)

Previous "black metal" posts on Boing Boing: Link.

Reader comment: Syaza in Malaysia says,

I've read ur article on black metal in malaysia. It is always easy to assume thins when u r not at the place, huh? Being a malaysian, i know exacly why our gov is worried with the black metal in malaysia, as many of us did. We know that not all underground music is the same, but the effect that they have on our teenagers are just @#$%!!!! You would feel the same too if you can see it yourselves.

Their belief is that to be against the norm. A total counter-culture. So what did they do? They go against all our Malay and Islamic belief. Here's what they've done - drink goat's blood, pee and jump on our holy Al-Quran, worship satan....etcetc

And i know that you would have realised that this is not just against Islam, but to Kristians and Buddish too. I am suprise that you think this is not a big deal. Try think, why do we think so? Think.

ps. dont judge or make assumption when you dont know the truth.

Reader comment: Edwin Gore says,

"pee and jump on our holy Al-Quran." So, the real problem at Guantanamo is not a culture of torture, but rather the spread of Black Metal throughout the ranks of interrogators...