Yemen: Houthis ban song and music as part of ‘promoting perfect Qur’anic awareness’

[duluxe]

https://thearabweekly.com/houthis-borrow-page-isis-fanaticism-they-ban-song-and-music-sanaa

ADEN – Yemeni activists have launched a counter-offensive to celebrate Yemeni music in defiance of the decision by the Houthi militias to ban music and songs at social functions in the areas under their control, based on religious fatwas criminalising popular art in a practice similar to that of Islamic State (ISIS) extremists.

The Yemeni ministry of information, culture and tourism joined the activists’ campaign and announced the adoption of the first of July of each year as Yemen’s Song Day.

The ministry called for celebrations on this day in Yemeni governorates. It also invited “artists, poets, writers, journalists, broadcasters, activists and all groups of people in all governorates to participate in the celebration of the Yemeni Song Day … with the aim of promoting Yemeni culture and Yemeni heritage.”

Commenting on the campaign launched by Yemeni activists, the Yemeni government’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammar al-Eryani tweeted, “In response to the initiative launched by a number of artists, intellectuals and activists, in order to strengthen the Yemeni identity and protect Yemeni heritage and art, in the face of the fierce campaign waged by the Houthi militias against art, the ministry of information, culture and tourism, announces that July 1 of every year will be celebrated as Yemen’s Song Day.”

During the past few days, Yemeni journalists and intellectuals posted on social media a copy of an official document by the Houthi authorities, containing instructions that prevent male and female artists from attending weddings and other social functions held in Sana’a and other areas under the control of the Iran-backed militias.

The document issued by the Houthi governor of Sana’a, Abdul Basit al-Hadi, confirmed that directives were issued to heads of directorates and local councils to “curtail the phenomenon of artists and artists performing at events and weddings by promoting Quranic awareness within the community.”

The decision is just part of measures and practices enforced by the Houthi militias in their areas of control, which include the closure of public places, such as cafes and restaurants, detention and arrest of activists and artists on moral charges and restricting artistic and creative activities, through measures that Yemeni media and activists likened to ISIS practices in Iraq and Syria during the period of the extremist group’s control of large swathes of the two Middle East countries….

Yemen has recently seen a wave of departures by contemporary Yemeni singers, especially from the younger generation, who have left the Houthi-controlled areas and emigrated outside Yemen, to flee the restrictions imposed by the militant group.