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Xeni Jardin: 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.
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