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| Malaysian rapper arrested over video 'disrespectful to Islam' | |
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| A popular Malaysian rapper and film director has been arrested over a music video that allegedly disrespects Islam, the national news agency said. | A popular Malaysian rapper and film director has been arrested over a music video that allegedly disrespects Islam, the national news agency said. |
| Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was detained at Kuala Lumpur International airport on his return from a trip overseas, the Bernama agency said late on Sunday. | Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was detained at Kuala Lumpur International airport on his return from a trip overseas, the Bernama agency said late on Sunday. |
| The word “Allah” and sounds of the Islamic call to prayer were said to be used in the four-minute Mandarin music video, titled Oh My God. | The word “Allah” and sounds of the Islamic call to prayer were said to be used in the four-minute Mandarin music video, titled Oh My God. |
| The video featured footage of Namewee and other singers dressed in outfits representing different cultures and religions performing inside a mosque and a church as well as at Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist temples. | The video featured footage of Namewee and other singers dressed in outfits representing different cultures and religions performing inside a mosque and a church as well as at Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist temples. |
| Malaysia generally practises a moderate brand of Islam but religious tensions have simmered in recent years, with concerns over a steady rise of conservative Islamic attitudes. | Malaysia generally practises a moderate brand of Islam but religious tensions have simmered in recent years, with concerns over a steady rise of conservative Islamic attitudes. |
| Earlier this year, cinema posters and a billboard advertisement for a Hong Kong blockbuster film were modified to erase a half-man, half-pig character. Pork and its byproducts are forbidden under the religion. | |
| In July, several groups filed police reports claiming Namewee’s music video had insulted Islam. In response, he posted a YouTube video explaining that he had no intention of insulting any religion and that the song was written to “promote harmony”. | In July, several groups filed police reports claiming Namewee’s music video had insulted Islam. In response, he posted a YouTube video explaining that he had no intention of insulting any religion and that the song was written to “promote harmony”. |
| The original video is no longer available online but an edited version without footage of the mosque scenes was uploaded on YouTube over the weekend. | |
| Namewee is no stranger to controversy and has ruffled political and religious feathers on several occasions. | Namewee is no stranger to controversy and has ruffled political and religious feathers on several occasions. |
| He first hit the headlines in 2007 when he posted a video that featured him rapping to Malaysia’s national anthem using allegedly seditious lyrics. In the introduction to the video, which shows a Malaysian flag in the background, Namewee dedicated the song to “all Malaysians, especially the government”. | He first hit the headlines in 2007 when he posted a video that featured him rapping to Malaysia’s national anthem using allegedly seditious lyrics. In the introduction to the video, which shows a Malaysian flag in the background, Namewee dedicated the song to “all Malaysians, especially the government”. |