Post by cenydd on Sept 5, 2013 10:49:27 GMT
A US metal band has been barred from performing in Malaysia, after officials said the group could infringe on the country's religious sensitivities.
The band Lamb of God was originally due to play in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, on 28 September.
However, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry has refused to grant the band a permit.
The concert organiser said that the band and the metal genre had been "greatly misunderstood".
Last week, the Department of Islamic Development also objected to the group's performance, saying that the music the group performed mixed metal songs with verses from the Koran, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported.
In a statement Lamb of God said: "It is very evident (and a bit frustrating) that the groups, parties and powers that have taken the most offense to our music and lyrics have themselves only made a passing glance at the content and meanings of those songs."
"We would invite anyone offended by our music to engage in a discussion regarding the true motivations behind our work, especially before publicly slandering us based on assumptions and shallow misinterpretation," it added.
The band Lamb of God was originally due to play in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, on 28 September.
However, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry has refused to grant the band a permit.
The concert organiser said that the band and the metal genre had been "greatly misunderstood".
Last week, the Department of Islamic Development also objected to the group's performance, saying that the music the group performed mixed metal songs with verses from the Koran, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported.
In a statement Lamb of God said: "It is very evident (and a bit frustrating) that the groups, parties and powers that have taken the most offense to our music and lyrics have themselves only made a passing glance at the content and meanings of those songs."
"We would invite anyone offended by our music to engage in a discussion regarding the true motivations behind our work, especially before publicly slandering us based on assumptions and shallow misinterpretation," it added.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23956174
Malaysia does seem to be a bit over-sensitive about such issues, and I can understand the band's statement about 'publicly slandering'. It doesn't sound like they'va asked for any clarification or explanation, and have just banned them outright without properly looking into it.