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INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE

About 'hate music'
Music intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability is referred to as 'hate music'. Similar to 'hate speech'.

Freemuse's stand on 'hate music'
"While it is an anti-censorship organisation, Freemuse does recognise that there may be occasions on which free speech can legitimately be restricted. In general we judge on a case by case basis and are guided by international conventions such as the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Such documents themselves tend to recognise that there are occasions where speech may legitimately be restricted. For Freemuse to be anti-censorship is not to say “anything goes”."
Dr. Martin Cloonan, Chair of Freemuse executive committee

Read The United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Read The United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Click on icon


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Read about music which incites to violence on freemuse.org

New Zealand: Controversial American hip-hop group's concert cancelled
The Big Day Out festival removed the American rap group Odd Future from the festival's Auckland lineup due to objections from locals over the group's homophobic lyrics
15 November 2011
Jamaica/Antigua: Arrest of reggae musician sparks censorship debate
The arrest of dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, who is charged with murder, has sparked a debate over whether restrictions should be placed on of music with violent content
12 October 2011
South Africa: Anti-apartheid song declared 'hate speech'
On 12 September 2011, South Africa’s high court banned the ruling ANC party from singing the old anti-apartheid song ‘Shoot the Boer’
13 September 2011
USA: College bans national anthem because of too violent lyrics
A 1,000-student college in Indiana State has banned ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at all sporting events because the national anthem’s lyrics are too violent and glorifying war
31 August 2011
UK: Ban on steelbands in Leeds Carnival parade due to unrest
Out of “fear it may cause trouble”, traditional Caribbean steelband music has been banned from the 44th Leeds West Indian Carnival parade, reported Yorkshire Evening Post
29 August 2011
Denmark: iTunes 'censorship story' became news breaker for Danish pop band
A song entitled ‘Dum’ (‘Dumb’) by the Danish pop band Superspark was renamed ‘D*m’ when it was released on 15 August 2011 in Apple’s online music store iTunes
17 August 2011
South Africa: Controversy over whether ‘hate song’ should be banned
The Irish singer Bono’s defense of a controversial song has triggered heated debate. Supreme Court in South Africa is considering whether the song should be banned
25 February 2011
Germany: 11 Jamaican 'hate music' albums blacklisted
An official German authority has blacklisted 11 dancehall albums in the period between 2008 and January 2010 due to violent and homophobic content
20 April 2010
South Africa: Old anti-apartheid song banned on hate speech charges
On 26 March 2010, a South African high court prohibited the singing of a controversial anti-apartheid song, ‘Ayesab'amagwala’ (‘The cowards are afraid’)
19 April 2010
Rwanda: Singer Bikindi's conviction affirmed by UN Appeals Chamber
On 18 March 2010, Rwandan singer Simon Bikindi’s conviction and sentence of 15 years in prison was affirmed by an Appeals Chamber of the United Nations
29 March 2010
Belarus: German band declared ‘a public enemy’
A governmental Council for Morality in Belarus has declared the German hard rock band Rammstein a threat to the state and wishes to ban an upcoming concert in Minsk
25 February 2010
Brazil: Mayor bans rap music
During the carnival period anyone caught listening to Brazilian funk or rap in Sao Lourenco will have to turn it off or face arrest and up to six months in prison
14 February 2010
USA: City council discusses ban on hip-hop
A councilman in Fort Myers, Florida, is seeking to have hip-hop music banned at the Harborside Events Center and other venues in Fort Myers
05 October 2009
Guyana: Ban liftet on 'gangsta' dancehall star
Several countries in the Carribean have barred the Jamaican dancehall artist Mavado citing that his lyrics advocate violence. In Guyana, the goverment lifted the ban
23 September 2009
France: Censorship row over festival's ban on rapper
When the rapper Orelsan was taken off the poster of a major French music festival in the last minute, he became centre of a national debate over censorship
20 July 2009
Rwanda: Singer sentenced 15 years prison for incitement
One of Rwanda’s most famous singers, Simon Bikindi, was convicted on 2 December 2008 for his direct and public incitement to commit genocide
03 December 2008
Denmark: Activist campaigns against online sales of 'murder music'
Online music stores that sell so-called 'murder music' (reggae with lyrics inciting to violence against homosexuals) receive complaints from Danish gay rights activist
22 May 2008
Canada: Jamaica-boycott called off
The Canadian group that called for a boycott of Jamaica unless the country's government take action on homophobic violence has called it off after recieving an official letter
22 May 2008
Canada: Silencing Jamaican musicians fuels censorship debate
A Canadian coalition calls for a boycott of Jamaica by 12 May 2008 if the country's government doesn't take action on homophobic violence.
08 May 2008
South Africa: Rap song banned for incitement to violence
The song 'Get Out' by Zimbabwean-born hip-hop artist Zubz was banned on the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC.
07 May 2008
Mozambique: City authorities called rapper in for questioning
The rap artist Azagaia was summoned before prosecutors to explain the allegedly violent lyrics of a song he has written about the February 2008 riots in Maputo
06 May 2008
Jamaica: Dancehall artist banned for his 'gangsta lyrics'
In January 2008, a performance by Jamaican dancehall artist Mavado was banned by authorities in St. Vincent because his lyrics which are considered to be violent
28 April 2008
UK: Tory leader calls for ban on violent lyrics
On 4 July 2007, David Cameron renewed his call for the music industry to "show leadership" by banning violent lyrics from songs, reported The Guardian.
04 July 2007
Rwanda: War crimes trial feared to legitimise new repression of musicians
A UN war crimes trial charges a musician with inciting genocide in Rwanda. An unintended consequence could be repression elsewhere of legitimate forms of musical expression
14 November 2006
Canada: 'Gangsta rap' seeked banned
A Toronto activist has filed a complaint against Canadian music store chain HMV selling 'gangsta rap' that glorifies the mistreatment of women
27 September 2006
Censor and be damned? The link between violent music and violent behaviour
"The UK Home Office has decided that Sizzla cannot come to the UK to play at this time." Scotland on Sunday about the current debate on homophobic lyrics
14 November 2004
Beenie Man banned from MTV gig
Reggae star Beenie Man - recently accused of "lyrics that are an incitement to homophobic murder and violence" - has been banned from performing at an MTV concert after gay activists planned a protest over the singer's past lyrics
04 September 2004
D.R. Congo: Ban on rap music
In June 2004, the Committee of Censorship in the Democratic Republic of Congo censored all Congolese rap groups and foreign music. The reason given for banning rap is that it is 'obscene and violent, and causes the youth to behave badly'
21 June 2004
Pop lyrics and their censors
"Political correctness has imposed a new restraint on free speech." Interview with Freemuse co-chair Martin Cloonan on explicit lyrics and music censorship today
15 January 2004
Dr Martin Cloonan: About Hate Music
Politicians and police have accused rap music of encouraging gun violence, while musicians say deeper social problems are to blame
04 February 2003