The Artful Jurist

Anytime you think the United States has gone too far in cracking down on the unauthorized downloading of recorded music, just keep in mind what’s going on in Somalia these days. All but a couple of the radio stations in that African country have stopped broadcasting music altogether so as not to run afoul of an order from Islamist insurgents who proclaimed that the stations must cease broadcasting songs as of yesterday. That means no top-40, no golden oldies, no theme songs, no jingles…nothing that employs any form of music.

Why? Because, according to those issuing the edict, songs are “un-Islamic.”

Just FYI…This is the same group that also banned movies, musical ringtones, and brassieres. Apparently, “lifting and separating” is also un-Islamic.

Now, before we give Somalia and Islam a bad name in the music biz, it should be noted that Somalia, like virtually all other parts of the world, has a long tradition of music. According to reports, the music ban isn’t going over well among the people there. But radio stations are afraid to challenge an edict that comes from a group known for killing or lopping off the limbs of those who defy them. Political unrest and the lack of a strong Somali central government make those threats very real.