Today, we are going to address a subject that regularly makes the news: violations of freedom of expression in the musical field. Around the world, many artists face obstacles and repression when they decide to speak out through their music.
Take the recent example of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi. After spending more than a year in detention for his support of the protests, he was arrested again for expressing his opinions on the Web. In Iran, freedom of expression is heavily restricted, and artists who dare to criticize the regime can be severely punished.
But violations of freedom of expression are not only present in authoritarian countries. In the United States, rapper Young Thug is currently on trial for charges related to his involvement in a criminal organization. The lyrics of his songs were used as evidence against him, thus raising the question of the credibility of these texts. So what should we think of the controversial lyrics of Rihanna or Freddy Mercury in their songs?
These examples are unfortunately far from isolated. According to the NGO Freemuse report on artistic freedom, of the 1,251 cases of violations of artistic freedom recorded in 2021, 385 concern music. These violations are found in all regions of the world, whether in Europe, the Middle East, America or Africa.
The forms of violations are also multiple. Censorship is one of the main ones, aiming to prohibit the broadcast of musical works critical of the powers in place. Artists can also be disenfranchised by being banned from traveling, threatened, persecuted or even killed. In 2021, 29 musicians lost their lives due to their artistic commitment.
Interestingly, musicians are particularly affected by these violations. Of the 70 artists imprisoned in 2021, 49 were singers or musicians, or 70%. This overrepresentation can be explained by the power of music to convey a message and mobilize crowds. Artists who use their status to become spokespersons are often considered a threat by the regimes in place.
Rap, in particular, is in the crosshairs of the authorities. Due to his worldwide popularity and his vindictive nature, many rappers are repressed. In 2021, 88 rappers were affected by these violations, including 15 in Cuba.
It is essential to continue to highlight these attacks on freedom of expression in music. As a society, it is our duty to support artists who dare to express themselves, regardless of the country they are in. Music is a powerful form of expression that allows voices that are too often silenced to be heard.