KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian state is to officially declare a form of heavy-metal music forbidden, or "haram," for Muslims because of its negative influence on youth, Bernama news agency said on Friday.
Southwestern Negri Sembilan state was making the move to support this week's decision by the country's Islamic leaders to outlaw "black metal," it said.
"We will gazette (the decision) as a fatwa (Islamic edict)," Negri Sembilan Chief Minister Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad Mohamed told reporters.
Earlier this month officials said they discovered that a cult, based on heavy-metal music, was promoting anti-social behaviour and occultism among youth in some northern states.
Religious leaders said they found "Satanic" objects -- necklaces of skulls and references to animal sacrifices in amateur "fanzines" devoted to what is labelled black metal.
Earlier this week authorities said that all foreign rock groups planning to perform in the country would have to submit a concert video for approval.
Throughout the week religious and political activists urged authorities to cancel Friday's scheduled concert by veteran German rockers Scorpions, although promoters said the show had been cleared by censors and would go on.
06:02 08-03-01
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