Belarus declares Rammstein an enemy of the state

[Farin]

[smaller]Published: 23 Feb 10 10:29 CET | thelocal.de | link[/smaller]

Not content to oppress the country’s democratic opposition or rail against Western imperialism, the autocratic regime of Belarus has declared the German industrial rock band Rammstein to be an enemy of the state.

The country’s Morality Council announced on Monday that the Berlin-based group’s songs were propaganda for “violence, masochism, homosexuality and other perversions†that could “destroy the Belarusian state order.†The official opprobrium calls into question a planned concert in the capital Minsk on March 7.

The Belarusian moral authorities said “permission for a Rammstein concert is a mistake that can cost us greatly†and that the band would have to have its set list approved ahead of time in order to prevent “extremism†and to ensure the “dignity†the venue.

Belarusian critics of the Morality Commission say it has been used to limit freedom of expression since it was set up in 2009. President Alexander Lukaschenko’s regime in the former Soviet republic has also been dubbed “Europe’s last dictatorship†and Minsk frequently rages against alleged Western meddling in its affairs.

Members of Rammstein did not immediately comment on the official disapproval from Belarus, but the band is no stranger to controversy.

Rammstein’s latest album was banned from sale to minors in Germany in November due to its sexually charged lyrics and artwork allegedly inciting sadomasochistic violence.

The country's youth media watchdog the BPjM expressed particular concern over the song “Ich tu dir weh,†or “I'll Hurt You,†and a picture in the album booklet showing a seated man about to hit a naked woman. According to deputy BPjM chairwoman Petra Meier, the album promotes unsafe sex and portrays sexuality and power in a sadomasochistic manner.

The video for Rammstein's first single on the album, “Pussy,†featured fully pornographic scenes of band members having sex. However, the musicians say their provocative material is meant to have a cartoonish satiric edge.

For example, the lyrics “Blitzkrieg mit dem Fleischgewehr,†or “Blitzkrieg with the meat-gun,†in “Pussy†are meant to be a thinly veiled criticism of German sex tourism.

DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

[MindCrime]

It took them this long to decide on that?

I forgot Belarus was even a country.

[Farin]

I think it's interesting that a single band has the power to "destroy a country's state order"

[Viaene]

The Beatles did it to the U.S.S.R.

But then again they were The Beatles

[MindCrime]

Rammstein has taken some heat over here as well by morality critics and parent groups. But no worse than Marilyn Manson did during the late 90's.

[Farin]

yep, as the second part of the article states, the newest album is 'put on the index' as we say (ie it's not allowed to be sold to minors, among other things)

but that's a whole different thing to declare musicians as enemy of the state, isn't it

[Kevin]

All heil the Grand Pooh-Bah of Belarus ! Curious that they would break away from the Soviet Union if only in order to be more 'Soviet' than the Soviets . Morality Commisions - really - still ?!?! Why don't they look into political corruption , or the trade in young girls , or ... ugghh ....

They make Putin look good . I'm sure there was a good joke there but I Minsked it ...