Kuwait: ban on women performers

Off Our Backs, Jul/Aug 2004 by Christian, Sena, Stachowski, Roxanne, Ferden, Sara, Walter, Shoshana

The ministry of Kuwait issued a "fatwa," or religious edict, banning all concerts or music shows that include women singing, dancing or entertaining the audience in any way. In addition to banning female entertainers, the government has also required that single men and families sit separately at public concerts. The fatwa was in response to pressure from Islamist members of Parliament who requested that the government ban a show, similar to American Idol, called Star Academy, where male and female teenagers from a variety of Arab countries live together and compete against each other in a talent show. Despite the growing popularity of such reality television shows, many countries with a large Islamic population have forbidden them from being aired.

In july 1997, the Information Ministry of Kuwait banned all public music concerts or shows that conflict with Kuwaiti traditions and Islamic law. The recent actions of the government indicate an increase in Islamic conservatism in Kuwait.

-info from www.bbc.com