Basra's musicians fight Shiite radicals

[La_Serpiente]

Basra's musicians fight Shiite radicals

Southern Iraq's music men offer chorus of defiance as Shiite radicals want to silence their instruments.

By Barry Neild - BASRA, Iraq

Famous across Iraq for their mesmerising sea shanties, musicians in southern Iraq's Basra port who have endured conflict and poverty under Saddam Hussein are facing a new threat from Islamic radicals who want to silence their instruments.

Grenade attacks blamed on Shiite extremists have already targeted the cluster of shops crammed with drums, lutes and trumpets in the backstreets of old Basra's Semar district, where musicians meet to practice and take bookings.

Concert halls and clubs in the city have also been shuttered by religious leaders in the city, which lies in Iraq's Shiite Muslim heartland, flexing their muscles after years being held back by Saddam's largely secular regime.

"Two weeks ago, someone threw a hand grenade at my shop. The situation is very unstable and we feel restricted," said Nasrat Nasir, cleaning a battered old trumpet largely held together with sticky tape.

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Basra's musicians fight Shiite radicals

[Disturbed]

1. Shi'ites are Fascists

Man, musicians all over the world should protest this shia sheeit!!!

Think I will send this to several Music Zines.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Many Muslim musicians

are Sufis. In fact, one Sufi order, the Chistis, emphasizes music in their worship and praise. Wonder if these musicians are Sufis. In any case, they are my brothers, and I wish them well and hope they can play in freedom.