Islamophobia and censorship in Britain
Red Pepper | 14.08.2006 10:29 | Lebanon War 2006 | Culture | Free Spaces | Repression | London | World
The Sun calls him the suicide bomb rapper, MPs want him arrested and his record company refuses to support his latest album. But would his treatment be the same if he were white?
Aki Nawaz says Exposing the inherent colonial mentality of the British
State is an honour and worth any consequence in any shape or form.
Aki Nawaz says Exposing the inherent colonial mentality of the British
State is an honour and worth any consequence in any shape or form.
Public debate with Aki Nawaz of urban act Fun-Da-Mental...
All is War (the Benefits of G-Had), the as-yet unreleased album from
Fun-Da-Mental, has already caused a storm. Its direct political lyrics
dealing with terrorism, war, Muslim identity and western hypocrisy have
provoked outrage from politicians and the press, prompting Radio 1 to ban
it from its playlist and the distributors to declare it too hot to handle.
Yet as Nawaz points out in one of his songs, his message is no more radical
than that of white figures like Pinter, Pilger or Chomsky.
Red Pepper will be holding a public debate on Thursday 17 August,
discussing whether Nawazs treatment has highlighted a dangerous fusing of
Islamophobia and censorship, making us deaf to the grievances of Muslims.
Red Peppers editor Hilary Wainwright said: Muslims and Non-Muslims must
speak to defend democracy at a time when our Prime Minister is effectively
implicating the UK in war crimes. The institutions of democracy are being
overriden by the subservience to the US. Its up to all of us to recreate
democracy ourselves wherever we can. Support for Aki and his rights to be
published and promote debate will be a test case in resisting the fear and
intimation that is letting the government literally get away with murder.
This is why Red Pepper is strongly supporting him.
Aki Nawaz said: Muslims and Non-Muslims must speak out whether on the
streets or from their prison cells. Democracy has been insulted when
through fear and intimidation we are conditioned to side with those that
are drenched in the blood of thousands of human beings. These parasitesmust
be overturned. Exposing the inherent colonial mentality of the British
State is an honour and worth any consequence in any shape or form.
Also on the platform will be renowned human rights lawyer Louise Christian,
Natacha Atlas, Ken Fero of Injustice Films, John Pandit of Asian Dub
Foundation and Shahrar Ali of the Green Party.
6.45pm, Thursday 17th August
RampART, 15-17 Rampart Street, London, E1 2LA (off Commercial Road)
For further information contact Fiona Osler on 07734 079 757
All is War (the Benefits of G-Had), the as-yet unreleased album from
Fun-Da-Mental, has already caused a storm. Its direct political lyrics
dealing with terrorism, war, Muslim identity and western hypocrisy have
provoked outrage from politicians and the press, prompting Radio 1 to ban
it from its playlist and the distributors to declare it too hot to handle.
Yet as Nawaz points out in one of his songs, his message is no more radical
than that of white figures like Pinter, Pilger or Chomsky.
Red Pepper will be holding a public debate on Thursday 17 August,
discussing whether Nawazs treatment has highlighted a dangerous fusing of
Islamophobia and censorship, making us deaf to the grievances of Muslims.
Red Peppers editor Hilary Wainwright said: Muslims and Non-Muslims must
speak to defend democracy at a time when our Prime Minister is effectively
implicating the UK in war crimes. The institutions of democracy are being
overriden by the subservience to the US. Its up to all of us to recreate
democracy ourselves wherever we can. Support for Aki and his rights to be
published and promote debate will be a test case in resisting the fear and
intimation that is letting the government literally get away with murder.
This is why Red Pepper is strongly supporting him.
Aki Nawaz said: Muslims and Non-Muslims must speak out whether on the
streets or from their prison cells. Democracy has been insulted when
through fear and intimidation we are conditioned to side with those that
are drenched in the blood of thousands of human beings. These parasitesmust
be overturned. Exposing the inherent colonial mentality of the British
State is an honour and worth any consequence in any shape or form.
Also on the platform will be renowned human rights lawyer Louise Christian,
Natacha Atlas, Ken Fero of Injustice Films, John Pandit of Asian Dub
Foundation and Shahrar Ali of the Green Party.
6.45pm, Thursday 17th August
RampART, 15-17 Rampart Street, London, E1 2LA (off Commercial Road)
For further information contact Fiona Osler on 07734 079 757
Red Pepper
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