Yemen: AQ threatens singer with death

Evidently, a fatwa just wasn't enough.

A Yemeni al-Qaeda cell has threatened Syrian- Bahraini singer Asala Nasri with death if she performs in the Yemeni city of Aden on 14 February for Valentines Day, reported Arab TV network, al-Arabiya.

"Your fate will the same as former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto", said the message.

"We ask all Yemenis to oppose the concert and we confirm that al-Qaeda will not allow it [the concert] to go through. We will not allow the corruption of our society. This is how we will save our youth from these depravations, which are contrary to Islam" said the message.


The threat comes despite efforts by local authorities to downplay the threats and condemnation by Islamic parliamentary authorities in Yemen.

Three months ago, a group of Yemeni Ulema or Islamic scholars, issued a fatwa or religious edict which banned music concerts in the country. Among the signatories of this fatwa is one of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen, Abdel Majid al-Zindani.

Asala Nasri has a prominent career and has composed 20 music albums and is now married to Palestinian-American director Tarek al-Eryan. Her Bahraini citizenship was reportedly granted to her by Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, following a concert in celebration of Bahrain's independence day.