Jordan Bars Lebanese Band from Playing at Roman Amphitheater for Religious Reasons

Members of Mashrou’ Leila (photo by Ieva Saudargaitė via @mashrouleilagram/Instagram)

by Claire Voon on April 27, 2016

Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiques has banned a popular Lebanese band, known for its largely politically and sexually charged lyrics, from performing at an ancient Roman theater on religious grounds. The five-piece alternative rock group Mashrou’ Leila shared a statement on its Facebook page yesterday noting that the decision arose after the “intervention of some authorities.”

“Our understanding is that said authorities have pressured certain political figures and triggered a chain of events that ultimately ended with our authorization being withdrawn,” the post reads. “We also have been unofficially informed that we will never be allowed to play again anywhere in Jordan due to our political and religious beliefs and endorsement of gender equality and sexual freedom.”

Formed from a group of former architecture and design students at the American University of Beirut, Mashrou’ Leila was set to perform in Jordan’s capital Amman this Friday as part of its tour of its latest album Ibn El-Leil. Initially, the written notice it received said the performance contradicted the “authenticity” of the site, which dates to the second century. Mashrou’ Leila has already played there three times and said band members had adhered to the same permit procedures as on previous visits. Today, however, Amman district governor Khalid Abu Zeid told the AP that the band’s material “contradicts” the beliefs of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

The decision illustrates the region’s increasing religious conservatism, a crackdown on a group celebrated for openly addressing the limits to personal rights in many Arab-majority countries. Sung only in Arabic, the band’s swearword-filled discography has included songs that recall chilling encounters at security checkpoints (“Al Hajez“), describe a war-torn environment (“Obwa“), and center on homosexual relationships (“Shim el Yasmine”). Lead singer Hamed Sinno is also openly gay.

http://hyperallergic.com/294232/jordan-bars-lebanese-band-from-playing-at-roman-amphitheater-for-religious-reasons/