UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

3. Artists
Iraqi artists, actors and singers have been targeted by Sunni and Shi’ite extremists, who
accuse them of engaging in “un-Islamic” activities. 610 According to their views, music,
theatre and television encourage immoral behaviour. 611 The Iraqi Artists Association told
IRIN in November 2006 that almost all singers have fled the country and that at least 75 of
them had been killed since the fall of the former regime in 2003. 612 UNAMI, in its last
human rights report, mentioned the kidnapping and killing of Mutashar Al-Sudani, a well
known actor, on 18 December 2006. Furthermore, Abdulwahab Aldayni, a famous
performer and author, was attacked by an armed group on 29 November 2006, causing
permanent facial injuries. According to UNAMI HRO, several actors are considering
moving abroad out of fear for their lives. 613
Many others artists reportedly stopped performing their professions after receiving threats
or for fear of being targeted. For example, Yussef Ghadin, actor and singer, quit his job
after two of his colleagues were killed by a local militia who considered his work a “devil’s
job”. 614 Painters avoid depicting living objects or objects that might be considered erotic. 615
Accordingly, some artists have turned to religious music and paintings. 616
Other artists have been targeted for openly criticizing the political situation in Iraq. 617 Also
too close affiliation with “Western” art, e.g. the performance of English songs, might put
a person at risk as he/she could be considered of being supportive of the West, and in
particular the US. 618 Artists known to have been serving the former Government of Saddam
Hussein may also come under attack. 619
610
See also “Persons Accused of “Un-Islamic” Behaviour”.
611
Edward Wong, Iraqis make music from mayhem, Scotland on Sunday, 1 October 2006,
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1452272006; IRIN, Iraq: Artists become targets in
rising atmosphere of intolerance, 24 April 2006, http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=26311.
612
IRIN, Iraq: Singing “the devil’s music” will get you killed, 23 November 2006, http://www.irinnews.org/
report.aspx?reportid=61962.
613
UNAMI HRO, December 2006 Human Rights Report, p. 15, see above footnote 10.
614
IRIN, Iraq: Artists become targets in rising atmosphere of intolerance, 24 April 2006,
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=26311.
615
Mona Mahmoud, Postwar artists, art world will illustrate new time and place, USA Today, 21 July 2005,
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-07-21-artists-iraq_x.htm.
616
Ibid. See also: IRIN, Iraq: Singing “the devil’s music” will get you killed, see above footnote 612..
617
The Guardian, Art under fire, 22 November 2004, http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/
0,11710,1356522,00.html. For example, Waleed Hassan, one of Iraq’s best known satirists and broadcasters,
was gunned down in Baghdad on 20 November 2006. Hassan was known for his “Caricature” sketch show,
in which he poked fun at the political, security and social conditions in the country; Reuters, Iraqi TV satirist
killed in Baghdad, 20 November 2006, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20597665.htm.
618
IRIN, Iraq: Singing “the devil’s music” will get you killed, see above footnote 612. See also “Actual or
Perceived Sympathizers of the US-Led Invasion and/or the Multi-National Force in Iraq”.
619
See also “Members and Associates of the Ba’ath Party and the Former Regime”.
117