The Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) has fined three boys to pay MK 25,000.00 or in default clean mosques around Makhetha Township in Blantyre for six weeks for attempting to record a music video in which they referred God to Allah; a move which Muslims deemed was offensive to their religion.
Muslim artists fined for abusing the name of Allah
According to Malawi Muslims website (www.malawimuslims) the boys were further ordered to enroll for Madressa until they learn how to recite Juz Amma before they could reclaim the equipment that was confiscated from them last week.
MAM’s Blantyre District chairman Aman Omar, said that the boys, in the company of their parents, were subjected to a tribunal at the Islamic Information Bureau in Limbe, which was presided over by Sheikh Muhammad Uthman.
“The parents were very remorseful and they supported the outcome of the tribunal…. and were very grateful that their children will now (have a chance of) learning Islam, for the first time in their lives,” explained Omar.
Islamic Information Bureau was given the task of teaching the boys.
A grouping of young Muslims known as Islamic Concern confiscated video equipment for young artists who were found at Plantation House in Blantyre shooting a video for their song “Wallahi” which was deemed to be offensive to Islam.
The confiscated equipment, which includes a video camera, music player and clothes is being kept by Blantyre District Secretary General, Tony Chirambo.
Chirambo further confirmed that even the parents are attending the studies at Limbe Information Bureau in order to learn the basics of Islamic religion and that MAM Blantyre district committee is monitoring the compliance of the verdict.
The artists who are also Muslims, Chifundo Malenga 19, Alex Chimasula 16 and Yusuf Lika 19 hail from Machinjiri in the City of Blantyre. They failed to pay the fine.