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Iran's President Bans Western Music

19 Dec 05 - 06:24 PM (#1630827)
Subject: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: pdq

...assumed to be from AP...


IRAN"S PRESIDENT BANS WESTERN MUSIC
December 19, 2005, 3:30 PM ET



Hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran's radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Songs such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton's "Rush" and the Eagles' "Hotel California" have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G.

But the official IRAN Persian daily reported today (Dec. 19) that Ahmadinejad, as head of Iran's Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council, ordered the enactment of an October ruling by the council to ban Western music.

"Blocking indecent and Western music from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is required," according to a statement on the council's official Web site.

Ahmadinejad's order means the IRIB must execute the decree and prepare a report on its implementation within six months, according to the newspaper. "This is terrible," said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour, whose music was played occasionally on state radio and TV. "The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience."

Music was outlawed as un-Islamic by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini soon after the revolution. But as the fervor of the revolution started to fade, light classical music was allowed on radio and television. Some public concerts reappeared in the late 1980s.

Western music, films and clothing are widely available in Iran, and hip-hop can be heard on Tehran's streets, blaring from car speakers or from music shops. Bootleg videos and DVDs of films banned by the state are widely available in the black market.

Following eight years of reformist-led rule in Iran, Ahmadinejad won office in August on a platform of reverting to ultraconservative principles promoted by the revolution. Since then, he has jettisoned Iran's moderation in foreign policy and pursued a purge in the government, replacing pragmatic veterans with former military commanders and inexperienced religious hard-liners.

The latest media ban also includes censorship of content of films. "Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate trite and violence," the council said in a statement on its Web site explaining its October ruling.

The council has also issued a ban on foreign movies that promote "arrogant powers," an apparent reference to the United States.


19 Dec 05 - 06:40 PM (#1630829)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse

The man is a nutjob--wants Israel to move to Alaska, get him some nukes and blow up the middle east or the parts of it he doesn't like. Even some of the politicos there keep trying to spin his inane and insane remarks. Just what we all need. Wonder if Israel will bomb his little nuke factories up?


19 Dec 05 - 07:57 PM (#1630858)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: kendall

And to think that there are those in America who would love to have a theocracy.


19 Dec 05 - 08:11 PM (#1630868)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Peace

People tend to get the leaders they deserve when they vote.


19 Dec 05 - 08:24 PM (#1630873)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: The Fooles Troupe

Here we go again...


19 Dec 05 - 08:34 PM (#1630876)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Peace

Can't have that, can we?

He is a misguided arsehole and the people who put him in power didn't know what they were voting for. It all came as a surprise to them.


19 Dec 05 - 08:54 PM (#1630888)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Beer

Oh Boy! Bush likes country music doesen't he?


19 Dec 05 - 09:13 PM (#1630896)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Peace

There's as good a reason to invade as any that folks have come up with so far.


19 Dec 05 - 10:11 PM (#1630949)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Beer

Peace. Merry Christmas
Ad.


19 Dec 05 - 10:23 PM (#1630959)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Peace

You too, Ad. Hope it's safe, happy and healthy for you and your family.


19 Dec 05 - 10:27 PM (#1630960)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: pdq

I believe the problem started when President Ahmadinejad made an unreasonable demand of the Country Music industry. He said he wanted Toby Keith's song with "whiskey for my men - beer for my horses" changed to "warm goats milk for my men - Zamzam cola for my camels". They refused.


19 Dec 05 - 11:17 PM (#1630998)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Bee-dubya-ell

Songs such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper... have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G.

Only goes to show you that every cloud has a silver lining. Any leader who bans George Michael and Kenny G. can't be all bad.


19 Dec 05 - 11:27 PM (#1631007)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: GUEST

You suppose Ahmadinejad would like this quote from "The Big Lebowski"? : "Come on, man. I had
a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!"


20 Dec 05 - 02:02 AM (#1631056)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: alanabit

Just imagine a land where you would never have to hear "Sugar Sugar" or "Daddy Cool" again... I'm thinking of emigrating.


20 Dec 05 - 02:55 AM (#1631068)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: The Fooles Troupe

Single guy are you?


20 Dec 05 - 05:27 AM (#1631084)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: GUEST,Greycap

If the weird bugger banned bodhrans I might vaguely approve of him.


20 Dec 05 - 05:40 AM (#1631095)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: The Fooles Troupe

Let us pray for bagpipes and accordions then...


20 Dec 05 - 06:01 AM (#1631109)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Big Al Whittle

a relevant song wot I wrote
http://bigalwhittle.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/haventmrbushandblairdonegreat.mp3


20 Dec 05 - 07:07 AM (#1631162)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: alanabit

Foolestroupe: I shall need to sustain very severe damage to my hearing before I can bring myself to pray for bagpipes and accordeons!


20 Dec 05 - 11:11 AM (#1631391)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Peace

accordion (n.)

An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin.

Ambrose Bierce


20 Dec 05 - 11:17 AM (#1631397)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Ernest

Does the man know that atonic bombs are western technology?


20 Dec 05 - 11:17 AM (#1631402)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: Ernest

Ooops - should have been "atomic bombs" ...


01 Jan 06 - 11:48 AM (#1638800)
Subject: RE: Iran's President Bans Western Music
From: pdq

Not necessarily, Ernest. Perhaps you were thinking about one of Schönberg's symphonies.