Suicide bomber lyrics could lead to lawsuit
A hip-hop musician who has produced an album containing lyrics about suicide bombers could be prosecuted for glorifying terrorism under Britain’s new anti-terrorism laws.Aki Nawaz, frontman for the hip-hop group Fun-Da-Mental, has come under attack recently for the content of the band’s new album, All Is War (The Benefits of G-Had), which Nawaz helped write.At particular issue is the song “Cookbook DIY,” which contains lyrics about how a suicide attacker makes his bomb, such as “I’m strapped-up ‘cross my chest, bomb belt attached, deeply satisfied with the pain I hatched, electrodes connected to a gas cooker lighter.”
Two other songs, “Che Bin Parts 1 and 2,” compare Osama bin Laden to Argentine-born revolutionary Che Guevara, while “I Reject” criticizes what Nawaz feels is the immorality of Western culture. Other songs mention conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
The release of the album has already been pushed back to July 31 from July 17, and two record company executives have threatened to quit if the album is released.
In an interview with the BBC, Nawaz denied that he condones terrorist attacks on civilians.
“I know how the suicide bombers feel, but if they’re going to do anything, it’s got to be against military targets,” he said.
The controversial lyrics could land Nawaz in trouble under Britain’s Terrorism Act 2006, a bill that was passed in April after being introduced following the July 7, 2005 bomb attacks in London.
Difficult to prove
Authorities have not indicated they are investigating Nawaz, and the charge of glorifying terrorism is considered a difficult one to prove in court. But Nawaz, who is married and has children, has told British media outlets that he stands by his lyrics and is prepared to go to jail if necessary.
In a recent interview with U.K. publication The Guardian, Nawaz argued that he should be allowed to “push the boundaries” in the style of legendary British punk band The Sex Pistols and Canadian singer/songwriter Neil Young.
The potential release of All is War (The Benefits of G-Had) has drawn the scorn of Martin Mills and Andrew Heath, two “silent” directors of Nation Records, the label founded by Nawaz that featured the early releases of artists such as Asian Dub Foundation, Joi and Transglobal Underground.
Mills and Heath, executives with Beggars Banquet records, have threatened to resign from their posts with Nation Records if Nawaz releases the album, which he says he intends to.
Nawaz was born in Pakistan and grew up in Bradford, England. He started Fun-Da-Mental, a multiethnic hip-hop band concerned with social justice, in 1991.