Iranian TV Issues Report On Local 'Heavy Metal' Scene; Video

[ABlairican Pie]

On August 12, 2007, Iranian TV Channel 2 aired a report on the heavy metal music scene in Tehran. According to the report, "Devil worship originated in England in the 19th century. It is supported by Jewish and American capitalists. Drug use and depraved sexual rituals are part of the daily life of devil worshippers. . . Rap and heavy metal are among the main music styles in which the most indecent expressions are used, encouraging the listeners to violence, fear, lack of discipline, death, pain, recklessness, and paranoia."

Watch the clip at this location (with English subtitles).

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1537.htm

Reuters reported earlier in the month that Iranian police detained more than 200 people and seized alcohol and drugs in a raid on a "satanic" underground rock concert.

Iran, which has launched an annual summer crackdown on "immoral behavior", bans alcohol, narcotics and parties with unrelated men and women dancing, drinking and mixing. Western popular music is frowned upon.

The police operation took place in the town of Karaj near the capital Tehran, at an event with local disc jockeys, rock and rap groups performing, the media said.

"Most of those arrested are wealthy young people ... who came to this party with the goal of attending a provocative, satanic concert," daily Tehran-e Emrouz quoted a senior police official, Reza Zarei, as saying.