Rapper detained in Malaysia for 'insulting Islam' with CNY video

An ethnic Chinese rapper in Malaysia has been detained by police for a music video marking the Year of the Dog which has been accused of “insulting Islam” and damaging racial harmony in the majority Muslim country.

The video for Namewee’s song “Like a Dog” features the rapper sitting on a chair in a public square in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, surrounded by dancers in dog masks. Over the course of the video, several of the dancers mimic “doggy-style” sex.

Initially, some charged that the green-domed building in the background of the video was a mosque, however, Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee (黃明志), later said that it was actually the prime minister’s office.

Still, the canine masks and simulated sex move have apparently offended some in Malaysia. Traditionally, dogs have been seen as “impure” in Islam. More than 60% of the country’s 31 million people are Muslim.

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On Sunday, police announced that they had opened an investigation into Namewee following public complaints about his video doing damage to “racial unity and harmony.” In the following days, several government officials called for his arrest, while one artist group called for his citizenship to be revoked.

Yesterday, the rapper was asked to come to the police headquarters for questioning and was later detained. He will reportedly remain in police custody until Monday to “assist investigations” into his video.

Earlier that day, Namewee had posted a photo of himself at the headquarters to Facebook with a caption reading: “I am not afraid because I believe Malaysia has justice.”

The popular rapper is no stranger to controversy with an impressive repertoire of songs that have angered some groups and caused him to end up behind bars. Two years ago he was also detained over allegations that he had insulted Islam in another music video, which was partly filmed inside a mosque. He was later released without charges being filed.

In recent years, a rising wave of conservative Islamic attitudes coming to the forefront in Malaysia has caused increasing worry among observers. This week, an Islamic religious teacher made headlines by urging the government to adopt North Korean-style controls over the internet in order to curb the growth of the country’s LGBT movement.

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