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Iraqi artists and singers flee amid crackdown on forbidden culture
Guardian.co.uk ^ | May 11 2008 | Afif Sarhan & Caroline Davies

Posted on 05/12/2008 1:54:22 PM PDT by forkinsocket

Iraqi singers, actors and artists are fleeing the country after dozens have been killed by Islamic radicals determined to eradicate all culture associated with the West.

Cinemas, art galleries, theatres, and concert halls are being destroyed in grenade and mortar attacks in Basra and Baghdad.

According to the Iraqi Artists' Association, at least 115 singers and 65 actors have been killed since the US-led invasion, as well as 60 painters. But the terror campaign has escalated in recent months as both Shia and Sunni extremists grow ever bolder in enforcing religious restrictions on the citizens of Iraq.

Those remaining are in hiding as they make preparations to get themselves and their families to safety.

Haydar Labbeb, 35, a painter in Baghdad, said he had received five death threats and an attempt was made on his life as he drove his family home from a wedding. He is now trying to get to Amman in Jordan, where he hopes to continue painting.

'My art is seen by extremists as too modern and offensive to Islamic beliefs,' he said. 'For them, every painting has to be based on Islamic culture. But I am a modern artist.

'Life for artists in Iraq has turned into hell. We have been forced to stay in our homes and to stop working. I don't remember the last time I saw an exhibition, or a singer at a club, or an actor at a local theatre. All of us have been prohibited from working as a result of the killings.'

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: artists; iraq; islam
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1 posted on 05/12/2008 1:54:23 PM PDT by forkinsocket
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To: forkinsocket

“Haydar Labbeb, 35, a painter in Baghdad, said he had received five death threats and an attempt was made on his life as he drove his family home from a wedding. He is now trying to get to Amman in Jordan, where he hopes to continue painting.”

Starving artists in every culture, LOL. I wonder how many Art history majors they have over there?


2 posted on 05/12/2008 1:57:13 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Resolute Conservative

Wow. You are FUNNY! “LOL”


3 posted on 05/12/2008 2:01:25 PM PDT by supremedoctrine ("Time is the school in which we learn that time is the fire in which we burn"--Delmore Schwartz)
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To: forkinsocket
The AK-47 was made by godless communists, but they never see those as un-Islamic.
4 posted on 05/12/2008 2:02:12 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Pray for Rattendaemmerung: the final mutually destructive battle between Obama and Hillary in Denver)
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To: forkinsocket
As long as we are dependent on their oil it will only get worse before it gets better. Iran's Mullahs aren't helping things that's for sure, you can bet they are behind the scenes fanning the problem. My worry is that this crap can happen here too, in our own theaters and museums. It is religion to the extreme fed to ignorant and superstitious minds.
5 posted on 05/12/2008 2:35:32 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Where have all our Great Leaders gone? Certainly there must be one out there?)
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To: forkinsocket
Culture was encouraged during Saddam Hussein's regime, but no longer.

From another NYT Story - 2003 -

"In its brutal way, the killing demonstrated how profoundly Mr. Hussein had corrupted creative life in Iraq. He manipulated artistic expression so completely that many musicians, writers and artists now wonder if they can ever again find their own voices."

6 posted on 05/12/2008 2:37:12 PM PDT by babyfreep
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To: forkinsocket
Wow. No metion of the big crackdown that the ISF/coalition is leveling on those who are cracking down.

Of course, this is the Guardian.

I suspect all of these quotes were collected several months or more ago.

Gotta keep that agenda going as long as there are dupes who believe everything you say, eh, corrupt media scum?

7 posted on 05/12/2008 3:06:02 PM PDT by Allegra (TEHRAN DELENDA EST)
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To: forkinsocket
The paper of choice of “Red Ken, Ex-High Lord Mayor of London” to find blame and anything negative to say about the battle for freedom and hope in Iraq.
8 posted on 05/12/2008 4:13:11 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs to said?)
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To: forkinsocket

What a lovely culture the jihadists have!


9 posted on 05/12/2008 9:43:21 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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To: forkinsocket

What a lovely culture the jihadists have!


10 posted on 05/12/2008 9:43:25 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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