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POSITIVE NEWS STORIES Articles and news stories with positive news concerning music and censorship issues  (most recent first): Pakistan: Music returns to some of Pakistan's tribal areas In parts of Pakistan’s tribal areas, music is starting to return, reported Free Speech Radio News in a well-produced radio report on 16 January 2012. 18 January 2012 Myanmar/Burma: Musician Win Maw released Win Maw, one of Burma’s most famous musicians, is reported to have been released from Kyaukphyu Prison in Arakan State on 13 January 2012 at 13:40 pm local time 13 January 2012 Darko C Video interview with Darko C from Rangoon about the loosening censorship controls over media and the arts, produced by Voice of America on 12 January 2012 13 January 2012 Morocco: Rapper El Haked is finally set free After spending more than four months in jail, rapper Mouad El Haked is finally a free man. His supporters claim that the assault charges were a setup to muzzle the popular singer 12 January 2012 Freemuse Award 2011: Ramy Essam honoured in Stockholm On 21 November 2011 the Egyptian singer Ramy Essam received the Freemuse Award 2011 at a ceremony in Södra Teatern in Stockholm, Sweden 21 November 2011 Myanmar/Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi congratulates Freedom to Create Prize winner A specially recorded congratulatory message for Win Maw from Burma's pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi 20 November 2011 Myanmar/Burma: Win Maw receives Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist Prize Burma's famous musician and human rights activist Win Maw received the 2011 Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist Prize in absentia 19 November 2011 Myanmar/Burma: Awareness concert and award nomination for imprisoned singer Concert event on 26 November 2011 in Thailand for Win Maw, imprisoned in Burma since 2008, and now shortlisted for the Freedom to Create Prize 16 November 2011 Freemuse Award 2011 Egyptian singer Ramy Essam who provided the soundtrack for the Arab Spring at Tahrir Square will receive the Freemuse Award 2011 at a ceremony in Sweden 25 October 2011 Libya: Musicians for the first time on national radio Three weeks earlier, guitarist Fuad Ramadan could have been arrested for performing most of his songs in public. Now he is for the first time invited to perform on national radio 11 October 2011 United Kingdom: Music by torture survivors express protest, love and hope Stone Flowers, a British song-writing and performing project with 21 refugees who are also torture survivors – launched their debut album on 25 September 2011 03 October 2011 Afghanistan: First rock music festival Afghanistan's first rock music festival, ‘Sound Central – The Central Asian Modern Music Festival’ is an advocacy event for freedom of expression at a critical time. 14 September 2011 Afghanistan: They play rock music in Afghanistan - and get away with it The multinational rock trio White City from Kabul explains what it involves to play rock music in today's Afghanistan 15 August 2011 Myanmar/Burma: Hip-hop star given amnesty after three years in prison Zayar Thaw, a prominent hip hop artist and member of the outlawed Generation Wave youth activist group, has been released after to and a half years in prison 19 May 2011 Awards List of a number of international prizes and awards and words of recognition which Freemuse has received for its work 16 May 2011 Cameroon: First video interview after Lapiro's release from prison On 8 May 2011 Freemuse recorded singer Lapiro de Mbanga's first video interview since he was released from prison in Douala on 8 April after three years imprisonment 08 May 2011 Middle East: Hip-hop is a soundtrack to the North African revolt Hip-hop plays a central role in the revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Libya. Rap songs create an important platform for communication creating moral support 20 April 2011 Cameroon: Singer Lapiro de Mbanga released from prison Singer Lapiro de Mbanga was released from New Bell Prison in Douala on Friday 8 April 2011 at 2 pm after three years imprisonment under harsh conditions 08 April 2011 USA: Argentine song-writer won contest for freedom of expression 20-year-old Juliana Castro won the Inter American Press Association's contest for original songs related to violence against the press and unpunished murders of journalists 08 April 2011 Armenia / Iran: Banned live music thrives in neighbouring country During the Persian New Year, posters advertising concerts by banned Iranian musicians can be seen all over Yerevan, capital of the ex-Soviet republic Armenia 30 March 2011 Cameroon: Lapiro receives award on Music Freedom Day On Music Freedom Day, 3 March 2011, Freemuse visited Cameroon and handed over a much awaited award to the imprisoned singer Lapiro de Mbanga 09 March 2011 Music Freedom Day: Local ownership creates diversity of innovative events Music Freedom Day 2011: An exiled DJ returns to Kabul, music is smuggled out from Burma, and Freemuse hands over an award to an imprisoned singer in Cameroon 09 March 2011 Syria: Kurdish singer Bave Selah released Bavê Selah was released on 5 March 2011, according to Gemyakurda.net 08 March 2011 China/Tibet: Singer Tashi Dhondup released from prison The Tibetan singer Tashi Dhondup has been released from prison, reported Radio Free Asia on 8 February 2011 11 February 2011 Somalia: Radio station wins award from Reporters without Borders On 9 December 2010 the press freedom advocacy organisation Reporters without Borders awarded Somali Radio Shabelle with the '2010 Media of the Year prize' 15 December 2010 Pakistan: Musicians and artists are returning to Swat Valley After a military operation against the religious extremists, artists are now returning back to Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, reported The Express Tribune. 26 November 2010 Afghanistan: Witnessing a resurge in music Pashto music can now be heard in almost every nook and corner of Afghanistan, reported PRlog 24 November 2010 Somalia: Broadcaster ignores death threats and plays music Islamic extremists have banned music on the airwaves, but the organisers of Somalia’s newest radio station, Bar-Kulan, ignore their death threats and music ban 19 November 2010 Sweden: Music associations should engage in freedom of speech Representatives of musicians' associations in Sweden say to national radio: “It is about time that we begin to engage in free speech issues along the lines of Freemuse.” 17 November 2010 Freemuse receives grant from The Sigrid Rausing Trust The Sigrid Rausing Trust has awarded a grant of £50,000 for the next year to the work of Freemuse 12 August 2010 Norway: Festival celebrates musicians who refuse to be silenced With the theme 'Freedom and oppression', the 21st edition of the Førde Folk Music Festival in Norway in July 2010 focuses on musicians' struggle for human rights 16 June 2010 Austria: Museum of sound preserves banned music The Akustikon Museum of Sound in Linz, Austria, opened a special section dedicated to preserving banned music on 30 May 2010 02 June 2010 Iran: Music from 'below the radar' distributed on free CD A compilation of underground Iranian music, compiled by the music centre Bar-Ax, was published as a free bonus-CD with April-May 2010 issue of the music magazine Songlines 05 May 2010 Cameroon: Lapiro de Mbanga honoured at Cameroon Music Awards Organisers of the Cameroon music and cultural awards, Canal D'Or, have honoured jailed singer Lapiro de Mbanga with a Life Time Achievement Award 28 April 2010 Freemuse Award 2010: Winners honoured in London The joint winners of the Freemuse Award 2010, Mahsa Vahdat and Ferhat Tunç, gave a short and impressive performance at the award ceremony in London 29 March 2010 Freemuse Award winners 2010: Mahsa Vahdat and Ferhat Tunç Award ceremony held in London on 25 March 2010 in collaboration with Index on Censorship 22 March 2010 Cameroon / USA: American lawyers prepare UN petition for Lapiro Cameroon keeping Lapiro imprisoned is a violation of international law, argues a team of four lawyers from a US law firm 25 January 2010 Cameroon: Free-for-download album in support of Lapiro de Mbanga Mondomix has launched a free-for-download album in support of the imprisoned cameroonian singer Lapiro de Mbanga 06 January 2010 USA: Banned music showcased in concert series in New York A concert with the exiled Pakistani singer Haroon Bacha on 9 December 2009 marks the start of 'Impossible Music Sessions' in New York showcasing banned music 09 December 2009 Cameroon: Lapiro de Mbanga wins global award Imprisoned musician Lapiro de Mbanga is the 2009 winner of the 'Freedom to Create' Imprisoned Artist Prize 25 November 2009 Western Sahara: Aziza Brahim shortlisted for Freedom to Create Prize Western Saharan singer and musician Aziza Brahim is shortlisted for the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize in the Main Prize category 11 November 2009 Pakistan: Music stores are rebuilt in Swat valley In the north-western Pakistani valley of Swat, the Taliban's ban on all forms of artistic expression has been lifted, and culture now makes a comeback 04 November 2009 Tunisia: Freemuse receives international award The International Music Council awarded Freemuse the 'IMC Inaugural Musical Rights Award' for its "courageous global programme advocating freedom of musical expression" 19 October 2009 UK: Somali festival in London focuses on arts censorship This year’s Somali Week Festival in London, held on 23-31 October 2009, will focus on censorship of art and artists 23 September 2009 Iraq: Conductor in delicate negotiations with religious leaders The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra has negotiated performances in 2010 in the holy Shiite cities of Karbala and Najaf, where conservative religious values dominate 23 July 2009 Iraq: First rap concerts in Baghdad “They say that this is something that is banned by religion. But I do what I want to do,” an Iraqi rapper states in a report from one of Baghdad’s first rap concerts 20 July 2009 Turkey: Yet another Kurdish song cleared in court On 21 March 2009, a broadcasting editor of a local radio station Dünya in Adana, southern Turkey, was acquitted in a trial brought for the airing of the Kurdish song 'Keçe Kurdan' 29 April 2009 Turkey: Acquitted in court case over broadcasting a Kurdish song A Turkish court has cleared the Kurdish singer Şivan Perwer’s song ‘Mihemedo’ of an accusation of ‘inciting hatred and hostility’ 02 March 2009 Turkey: Popular singer acquitted of anti-military remarks Singer and tv host Bülent Ersoy was acquitted of charges against her for having made anti-military remarks during a tv programme broadcasted in February 2008. 06 January 2009 USA / UK: Norwegian singer Deeyah wins Freedom Award Deeyah, an exiled Norwegian singer and activist, was awarded with ArtVenture's 'Freedom to Create Prize' at a ceremony in London on 26 November 2008 27 November 2008 Canada: Country rock band defies "unofficial ban" from radio The Canadian country rock band Dry County feel they've been "unofficially banned" from the music industry. Freemuse asked the band's manager to elaborate 18 August 2008 Singapore / United Kingdom: Launch of award for repressed artists Article 19 and ArtVenture are seeking to “find light in darkness and courage in truth” with a newly established 100,000 US dollars 'Freedom to Create Prize' 18 June 2008 Saudi Arabia: Interview with founder of thrash metal band Faisal Al-Alamy is founder of the Saudi Arabian thrash metal band Octum. They released a demo entitled 'Fighting For Freedom' in January 2008 04 June 2008 Saudi Arabia: Musicians' freedom expanded There has been a quiet, yet marked increase in cultural activities in Saudi Arabia during the past couple of months. New music bands emerge and blossom on the internet 27 May 2008 Pakistan: Music breaks chains in North West Pakistan The melody of Pashto music that has been in chains for the last five years has now found a way to bless the hearts of its lovers with a renewed zeal and life 21 May 2008 Bahrain: Parliament's attempt to ban singer failed Bahrain's Islamist parliament members wanted to ban the Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe from performing in the country because of her sexy looks. They were not successful 05 May 2008 It can be cool to be censored When an artist is banned, it often sparks intense media intention and publicity. Here are just a few examples, including an Australian 'Gallery of bans' 05 May 2008 Afghanistan: Singer becomes symbol in the struggle for music freedom 18-year-old Lima Sahar has placed herself in the middle of Afghanistan's continous gender and music struggle. She could become the winner of the tv show 'Afghan Star' 13 March 2008 Yemen: Concert became courageous manifestation against terrorism Syrian singer Assala Nasry defied death threats by al-Qaida members in Yemen before her concert in Aden. The concert became a huge success. 19 February 2008 Belarus: Bans cultivate opposition, says musician Musician Ljavon Volski of the rock band N.R.M. have was asked if it is true that bans stimulate development of rock music 29 January 2008 Denmark: Exiled Kurdish singer awarded On 29 November 2007 the Danish Refugee Council awarded Mizgin, a Kurdish refugee musician based in Denmark, with an 'Artist Award' and 5,000 US dollars 05 December 2007 Belarus: Musicians removed from 2004-blacklist After a meeting between in Minsk on 21 November 2007, the musicians who were blacklisted in 2004 are now allowed to perform live and to be played on air in the radio 29 November 2007 Taiwan, Province of China: Ban on Tibetan rapper promoted sales of his album A religious group in Taiwan managed to get the government to ban the singer Singa Rinpoche from entering the country for one year. The ban only increased his popularity 30 October 2007 Turkey: Singer Ferhat Tunç acquitted The Turkish-Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunc could leave Izmir High Criminal Court as a free man on 4 October 2007. The Freemuse delegation succeeded it's mission 04 October 2007 China: Once banned Taiwanese singer regains popularity Beijing officials who seven years ago banned the music of Taiwan's pop star A-Mei now use her name to improve political ties between mainland China and Taiwan 17 September 2007 Cuba: Imprisonment made Gorki stronger Gorki Aguila is back full force. The Cuban music rebel was praised for his courage in a report on the American news network CNN on 23 April 2007 01 May 2007 USA: Dixie Chicks' triumph over censorship: Five Grammys It was a victory over censorship and death threats when Dixie Chicks 'swept' the most prestigious honours in the global music calendar, the Grammy Awards 12 February 2007 UNESCO-study in support of freedom of musical expression Study for UNESCO underlines the importance of freedom of musical expression while listing examples of suppression and censorship of music in numerous countries 10 November 2006 Mauritius Islands: Ras Natty Baby free at last One of the most popular artists of the Indian Ocean was released from prison on 21 September 2006 - the man who invented ‘seggae music’: Ras Natty Baby 28 September 2006 Afghanistan: Fewer music prohibitions on religious grounds Excerpts from a report on the situation in Afghanistan by U.S. Department of State, entitled “International Religious Freedom Report 2006”, released on 15 September 2006 28 September 2006 UK: Previously forbidden opera performed in Glasgow On 21 May 2006, Cecilia Bartoli performs in Glasgow, UK, with a programme that bears the same title as her latest album: ‘Opera Proibito’ - "forbidden opera". 15 May 2006 Afghanistan: First female music performance in a decade As the first female singer to take to the stage in Afghanistan in more than a decade, Tajik singer Maniza Daulat performed for 1,500 male fans in Kabul 25 January 2006 Afghan Children CD: 'Alocha' A CD by and for Afghan children has received massive coverage through Afghan and international media. 15 songs recorded with Hadia Rastagar and a childrens choir 14 December 2005 Afghanistan: Tolo TV wins Reporters Without Borders' yearly prize Afghanistan's main privately-owned TV station, Tolo TV, wins the ‘2005 Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France Prize’ 12 December 2005 Syria: Music censorship film wins award Film director Mohamad Malas' movie 'Bab El Makam' tells the story of a young woman, who struggles against a society which does not accept her love for singing 28 November 2005 China: Ease of restrictions against mainland rock-father Cui Jian A concert for an audience of 10,000 people marks the end of a decade of censorship against Cui Jian's angry rap-inflected rock 27 September 2005 Pakistan: Two South Indian dance teachers stand up to ban For the past 53 years, Indu and Tehreema Mitha have been doing the impossible in Pakistan: teaching South Indian dance to Muslim girls in a country where Islamic clergymen will not allow girls to dance 05 December 2004 Freemuse nominated 'best music web site' at Webby Awards The leading international honours for web sites, The Webby Awards, nominated Freemuse.org for am award in the category 'Best Music Web Site of 2002' 01 May 2002 U.S. Funding Effort to Preserve Afghan Music US preservation grant launched a project to record the music of Afghan musicians now residing in Pakistani refugee camps 11 January 2002