Norwegian blasphemers Taake have caused unrest amongst the Islamic community following a nomination for a music award in their home-country despite having written lyrics of an alleged anti-Islamic nature.
Taake’s latest album ‘Noreh’s Vaapen’ has been nominated in the metal category at the 40th annual Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy awards), along with Shining, Vreid, Insense and Arabrot. The controversy surrounds the song ‘Orkan’ which contains the lyrics “To hell with Muhammad and the Mohammedans” and their “unforgivable customs.”
Taake frontman Hoest has refuted these claims, stating their beef is with religion in general, not Islam itself. “Our view, in the name of freedom of expression, is that it is shameful to adhere to Christianity or Islam,” he said.
Marte Thorsby, chairman of the prize committee’s board, denied any allegations that the judges had not properly listened to the album before its nomination. Speaking to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, Thorsby stated; “We enjoy full freedom of expression in Norway and the Spellemann jury is not going to censor content in any way”.
More info here http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/01/10/187500.html
