Muslims force cancellation of Freddie Mercury birthday bash on Zanzibar

Yahoo AFP ^ | 08/31/06 | Issa Maalim

[Borges]

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AFP) - Organizers of a 60th gala birthday party for the late Zanzibar-born rock star Freddie Mercury, have cancelled the weekend event after outraged Muslims threatened to disrupt it.

Faced with fierce opposition from Islamists, who complained the flamboyant Queen lead singer's lifestyle was offensive to many on the overwhelmingly Muslim archipelago, organizers said they had no choice but to call it off.

"We have decided to cancel the party after misleading and erroneous information was spread about it," said organizer Simai Mohamed Saidi, who runs a Freddie Mercury theme restaurant in the capital.

"I urge Muslim groups in the future to seek correct information from us instead of relying on rumors," he said in an open letter, adding the event was intended to be celebration to honor Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991.

Saidi also lamented that the cancellation would hurt his intention to use the party to raise money for HIV/AIDS victims on Zanzibar.

Conservative Zanzibari Islamists last week demanded that authorities ban the party and then vowed to stage mass demonstrations if it went ahead, saying it would tarnish the islands' reputation and culture and promote homosexuality.

"We were ready to join forces against the party because we had information that a number of gays from abroad had come to take part," said Sheikh Azzan Hamdani of the association for Islamic Mobilization and Propagation (UAMSHO).

"We had also written letters to the tourist commission and the owner of the Mercury restaurant, demanding that they stop the party," he told AFP.

The authorities, who have long tip-toed between secular constitutional ideals, the demands of a booming tourist industry and the wishes of conservative Muslims, never formally responded to Islamists.

But Zanzibar's information ministry this week ordered local state-run media not to give the event any coverage.

Few on Zanzibar are aware of Queen or Freddie Mercury, who was born Farrokh Bulsara on the main island of Unguja to Persian parents employed by the British colonial administration on September 5, 1946.

But the appearance of posters advertising the beach party to celebrate what would have been his 60th birthday in recent weeks prompted the Islamist complaints.

Although he was educated in India and moved with his family to Britain in 1964, Mercury, who died in 1991, remains perhaps Zanzibar's most famous son to many westerners and rock music fans.

[zimdog]

I guess even Muslims have good points.

I guess even some Americans don't appreciate rock n' roll.

[zimdog]

Ha.

[RightOnline]

Get real.

[MagnoliaB]

Another example of Muslims getting their way by threatening killing and violence, the basis of their religion.

[zimdog]

Another example of Muslims getting their way by threatening killing and violence, the basis of their religion.

Hmmm, the article said that they "vowed to stage mass demonstrations" and had "written letters to the tourist commission and the owner of the Mercury restaurant, demanding that they stop the party."

No threats of "killing and violence". In fact, it's what we do here when liberals publicly celebrate something or another that offends our conservative morals. If this were in America, Fred Phelps would be there saying that Freddie Mercury is burning in Hell, Pat Robertson would denounce it as promoting homosexuality, and some FReeper would track down the addresses, phone numbers and emails of the officials involved so that we could voice our displeasure.

[Lumper20]

Not long ago it was taboo to say " Gay in the USA." ( Well its here today courtesy of the NEA and it will stay)."

Now that we got God thrown out of our public schools via the ACLU, we feel great pride and joy,in teaching to you the alternative lifestle of a once young boy " America Bites the Dust" ( Taught today in memory of Freddie Mercury, another NEA must)."

[Kakaze]

" The authorities, who have long tip-toed between secular constitutional ideals, the demands of a booming tourist industry and the wishes of conservative Muslims, never formally responded to Islamists"

If you just "tip - toe" about your constitution, don't be surprised if some one else Stomps the Hell out of IT!

[jslade]

Your #48. At least he had his kneepads on! All in all, the guy could sing.

[Lumper20]

What is this? Please explain.

[Wormwood]

Huh? Is there also a liberal wing?

Of course there is.

But since they don't act like religious fanatics and foment conflict, they are not newsworthy.

[Lumper20]

It is obvious that the DEM's only plan besides hate, and divide conquer is to take over all mass media and even to get their views on FR. Very sad.

[Red Badger]

A Fundamentalist Baptist Minister in Alabama, sorely tempted,
finally propositioned the Choir director one night after practice,
when they were alone in the Church.
"Where should we do it, Reverend?" she enthusiastically replied.
"Right here on the floor!" he panted.
"It'd be too cold." she whispered. "How about standing up?"
"Good Lord, girl! Have you taken leave of you senses?" he shouted.
"If anyone came in, they'd think we were dancing!"

[zimdog]

Of course there is. But since they don't act like religious fanatics and foment conflict, they are not newsworthy.

Succint and absolutely true.

[MarkL]

Yeah, but what's a little pedophilia between pedophiles?

How does it go?

"How do you separate the men from the boys in Saudi Arabia?"

"With a crowbar!"

Mark

[MarkL]

Another example of Muslims getting their way by threatening killing and violence, the basis of their religion.

Hmmm, the article said that they "vowed to stage mass demonstrations" and had "written letters to the tourist commission and the owner of the Mercury restaurant, demanding that they stop the party."

No threats of "killing and violence".

Of course, looking at recent "mass demonstrations" that muslims have staged elsewhere in the world in recent years would have no bearing on the decisions, right? You might want to ask Paris residents about what they think of "peaceful" mass demonstrations by muslims. Just don't be surprised if you get a question back: "What do you mean, 'peaceful?'"

Mark

[zimdog]

Of course, looking at recent "mass demonstrations" that muslims have staged elsewhere in the world in recent years would have no bearing on the decisions, right?

"Elsewhere" is a key word here. Seeing how Zanzibar is overwhelmingly Muslim (the CIA World Factbook says that Muslims account for "more than 99%" of the population), I would imagine that islanders don't have the unfounded fear of Muslims exercising their right to free speech that you seem to have.

[zimdog]

Succint and absolutely true.

Even if my spelling is a little off.

[zimdog]

My point was that what MagniolaB called an "example of Muslims getting their way by threatening killing and violence" was a concocted example. No threats of violence or killing were mentioned in the article. And while absence of evidence doesn't mean evidence of absence, absence of evidence certainly doesn'y mean evidence of presence.

[Darnright]

Wow, you can really see ol' Fred's heritage in this photo. I saw Queen live, many years back. Say what you will about him, the guy had a tremendous voice.

[OKSooner]

Was that your gratuitous insult for the year?