Sharia rocks: Gwen Stefani covers up in Malaysia
I noted the Muslim student protest of US pop star Gwen Stefani’s scheduled Malaysia concert earlier this month. Well, the concert went off without a hitch today. As promised, Stefani behaved nicely for the Islamo-enforcers and covered herself according to the dictates of sharia law:
Gwen Stefani was a good girl, just like she promised.
The 37-year-old pop star wowed fans in Muslim-majority Malaysia on Tuesday, performing in costumes that showed almost no skin after Islamic critics claimed that her revealing clothes could corrupt the country’s youth. She burst onto the stage wearing a black leotard under a white short-sleeved shirt and black-and-white striped hot pants suit, with black gloves up to her elbows.
“I am very inspired tonight,” Stefani told some 7,000 cheering fans at an indoor stadium.
She changed costumes for every song, remaining fully covered as she belted out tunes such as “The Sweet Escape,” “Rich Girl,” “Wind it Up” and “Hollaback Girl.” Stefani had promised to dress modestly after the 10,000-member National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students charged that her skimpy outfits and cheeky performances clashed with Islamic values. The opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party also accused her of promoting promiscuity and corrupting the country’s youth. In an interview with Galaxie, a local entertainment magazine, Stefani said she had made many changes for Malaysia, calling it a “major sacrifice.”
“I’ve been in the music industry for 20 years and this is the first time that I’m facing opposition from people who have misunderstood me,” she was quoted as saying.
“I’m not a bad girl,” she said.
No, not a bad girl. Just a dhimmi. That’s all that they’ll let her be:
“All international artists have to dress down a bit to respect our religion,” said Linda Yusof, 33, a Malay Muslim.
Under government guidelines, a female artist must be covered from the top of her chest, including shoulders, to her knees. No jumping, shouting or throwing of objects onstage or at the audience is allowed. Performers also cannot hug or kiss, and their clothes must not have obscene or drug-related images or messages.
Interestingly, media photographers were not allowed to take pictures–ostensibly for copyright reasons–and those attending the show had to leave their cameras outside. Still, a few Malaysian concertgoers were able to get cell phone video of the concert. Here’s one that was posted a few hours ago:
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
- Sharia rocks: Gwen Stefani covers up in Malaysia
- First Round | August 22, 2007 : The Shot! @ shotpolitics.com
- Wonkette
- Explaining the Gwen Stefani Controversy at The Daily Boomerang
- Is It Dhimmitude If It’s Their Country? « The Sophistry
- Rihanna Concert Protests | veracitas.net
- Rihanna Concert Protests | malaysianissues.net
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Sharia
protein wisdom
» A Nannystatist Emily Litella moment [Darleen Click]
Ed Driscoll
» The University ArchipelagoNewsBusters.org
» The War on Terror Made Him Do ItEd Driscoll
» First We Take Chicago, Then We Take BerlinNewsBusters.org
» Matthews on Ft. Hood Suspect Warning Signal: 'That's Not a Crime to Call al Qaeda, Is It?'Pundit & Pundette
» Westboro haters have enough to go around for everyoneTigerHawk
» Abortion and health care "reform"Weekly Standard
» The Federal Bureau of Non-Investigation
Well, apart from the video posted that shows she exposed her arms.. and her hair fully uncovered… so not quite the blockbuster story here.
Dhimmi? Hardly…
I love her….
Looked like surrender to me but then what do I know, I’m just an old east coast country boy that refuses to ever consider surrender when it comes to sharia.
That has got to be the LAMEST excuse for a ‘rock concert’ I have ever seen. What’s with the security guard touching her? Isn’t it against Sharia for an unrelated male to touch a female? Hopefully he’ll get the appropriate punishment.
Stefani should have boycotted this event. Is her credibility as a ‘punk rocker’ important enough to have it thrown away for a mere 7,000 Malaysian kids? Jim Morrison would be proud. I just hope she never ONCE complains about a Christian group having issues with either HER act, or an act she’s touring with (muslim extraordinaire Akon).
I know her star is fading, but for 7,000 people on the other side of the world, I’d have said ‘forget it’ and gone to the beach or shopping if they wanted me to do something dramatically different.
What a poor excuse for a ‘rock star’. I’m not saying ‘rock stars’ need to exhibit poor behavior, but to change one’s self (who she is) for appeasement when she could have just said, ‘um, no’ strikes me as a bit ‘um, pathetic’.
Star is fading? lol, oh sure millions of copies sold worldwide, I’d take that fading cash crop.
So, Gwen’s “major sacrifice” (her words) to appease Sharia hardliners isn’t Dhimmi? What would you call it?
She’s performing in a Muslim culture, silly. If she were appeasing Islamic culture here in America, that would make her what you call “dhimmi.”
This is a stupid non-story.
Geography has no bearing on one’s status as a “Dhimmi”.
She is arguably the personification of everything the Muslim culture finds offensive and her decision to cave in the face of Islam was a choice. She obviously wasn’t hurting for cash, so why did she voluntarily sell herself out and violate her own artistic integrity?
Not an earth shattering story, I agree, but Gwen is a Dhimmi.
whatever happened to the attitude that all Americans brazenly traverse this globe w/the attitude that where ever we plant our feet we are standing on American soil w/the same God-given rights that we have in the USA??? Did Gwen miss the memo?
I hope you’re kidding.
Cowardly whore.
While I’m glad that I hardly ever hear Christian groups protesting and complaining like a bunch of muslim crybabies every time they encounter something which doesn’t fall in line with their faith, I admit it would make this story more interesting if they did so in regards to one of Gwen’s American concerts. Then we could see how many “major sacrifices” she would be willing to make in order to avoid being misunderstood.
Fortunately we understand quite well what she is all about and can choose to ignore her or simply accept that she is willing to compromise her ideals for dollars.
It’s always nice to know where a person stands when it comes to compensating one group of people’s values over another’s though.
I’ll protest with my dollars and leave it at that.
Question for Gwen: Just what is so adorable about Islam that drives you to modify your performance standards in deference to Muslims… and when have you EVER modified your “show” so as to not offend Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists…
It may not mean much to you that a mere 7000 people wanted to see her but she took the proper road. 7000 people who live in that society but enjoy her music got the chance to see her perform, and she respected her fans enough to jump through the hoops required to perform for them. This realy is a non-issue, she was traveling to a country with standards set by the majority thus conform to their laws or don`t go there period.
I hope the Islam apologists here understand that Malaysia is only 50% Muslim if you count only the Malays or 70% Muslim if you consider the indegenius natives, (i.e. Bumiputra) many of whom practice a variety of religions including Christianity.
Malaysia is not Saudi Arabia. At best, 50% of the country is not Muslim. At worst, 30%. Given that there are ~25 million people living there, you have at the very minimum 7.5 million people who are not Muslim.
Now what is the real story here? The real story is how some irrelevant student lobby (I have never ever heard of that Muslim student movement, they’re definitely not UMNO youth which is the largest most influential Malay youth movement) managed to pressure a pop star who supposedly exudes ‘attitude’ to conform to their demands. Not only that, most of the fundamentalist Muslims in Malaysia would hardly ever set foot in a concert, much less a Gwen Stefani concert. Watch the video linked above. Do you see anyone who is not in a T-shirt? Do you see anyone who is in a head covering?
30% of Malaysia is non-Muslim. The majority of Gwen Stefani’s fan base in Malaysia comes from this 30%. Why should she give in to the demands of some random student group that weren’t going to watch her concert anyway? Whatever happened to “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it?” That is something the Muslims in Malaysia need to get their head around. We are not Muslim. Why should we come under your Muslim laws?
The Christians, Jews and Hindus have a remarkable habit of not killing people who offend their sensitivites so its a little bit easier to say “screw you” to them.
Saying “screw you” to muslims tends to actually have a consequence. Not so brave of the aging Gwen really. Not so “cool rock chick”. She’s not a dhimmi, just a coward.
The only “attitude” exhibited by Gwen Stefani was one of complete and total surrender … for her sake I hope she spent part of those Malaysian ringgits she was paid for some nice Bourqahs … she’s going to need them if this crap keeps up …
I guarantee the “fans” that wanted to see her were not looking for a concert in which she was covered from head to toe like all the Muslim women they see every day …
Our freedom to dress as we please is one that is very much coveted by many people around the world … giving up that freedom in this case is deplorable …
I’ve just noticed she is wearing trousers. Trousers!
Does she not know that some right wing Christian fundamentalists are against women wearing trousers? Shouldn’t she be wearing a long flowing dress?
It’s not that big of a deal. When you go to someone else’s home, you respect their customs. If you show respect in this world, you tend to get respect in return. I have no problem with the way Gwen Stefani dresses. As a matter of fact, I think she’s gorgeous and one of the classier women in the music business. But, she was in another country with different customs. We can say that “if you don’t like it, don’t go”. That works here in America, but not in other places. I actually think that she should be commended for changing her attire and not trying to make a political statement about the whole thing. Had she done that, she wouldn’t have been allowed to perform and her fans would have been disappointed. After all, the fans are what should be most important to her, right? I mean, she’s not a politician or an ambassador.
Here’s an idea to ponder;
Young girls like to mimic stars.
Imagine them “copying or imitating” Gwen’s attire.
Her photos will be splattered in magazines and designers will be creating clothes in that fashion, hence, a new trend.
Won’t it be fun to see our young people wearing Islamic fashion?
What’s the REAL message in all of this?
To make it more appealing and acceptable making a “STAR” wear this garb? Influencing our impressionable youth?
Extremely provoking, to say the least.
This isn’t quite as embarrassing as Nancy Pelosi in Damascus. Gwen is just a performer, Nancy is the Speaker of the House. That photo of Nancy will follow her forever. Gwen didn’t do much different. I have to say not a big deal.
By the way, this was in the Wikipedia entry on Malaysia
Malaysia will cane you for hiring illeagal workers, and they consider an “amnesty” to be allowing you to leave without paying fines for breaking the immigration laws they have. But we are so heartless, and without compassion here in America!
A funnier story out there today from malyasia is the Bigimist ordered by a judge to give his first wife a pig and a buffalo,the marraige of ten years was anulled.
I’m sorry, if some Christian group in the bible belt made the same demands Gwen would tell them to shove off and people would be laughing at the silly backward Christians……..of course that would only be because they don’t have to worry about getting their head lopped off by a Christian……
That’s a pretty cheap divorce, in my book. If only we could settle things so easily here.
A crucial point is being missed, and that is one of respect. A simple basic principle.
I have several friends whose homes I visit that require me to remove my shoes. I accommodate their rules and respect their views. Does this make me something I am not, or does it demonstrate that I have good manners?
I am a smoker, and if a person does not want me to smoke in their home, I won’t. Does this make me something I am not, or does it demonstrate that I have good manners?
When you go to someone’s home you follow their rules, or you don’t go. The same applies to countries. Follow the rules, be respectful, or don’t go there.
Yawn… I’ll handle this, everyone.
If your friends required you to bow in dhimmitude (submit yourself) to their religion, would you go over to their house? Bowing in dhimmitude isn’t just a “sign of respect” for Islam.
There’s a difference between following the rules at someone else’s house and what we’re talking about. If it was just about the wardrobe, I’d be with you. But it’s not.
Well, I am neither a concert goer nor a Stefani fan. However, I am a Jew, and if I go into a Catholic Church, I make sure my head is covered (very old school). I don’t think that is a sell-out. I happen to think it is respectful. When I go to the Kosher butcher, I make sure I am wearing a skirt….I don’t shake hands.
There must be something I am missing in the story.
Isn’t this a Muslim (majority) country? Can’t they do what they please?
This is ridiculous. Calling Gwen Stefani a “cowardly whore” on a comment thread? Really?
She was in another culture and she adapted accordingly. Think of it the other way around. Think of how pissed some of you get when you see a woman in a Muslim headdress*. You want to force them to adapt. But for someone to adapt to them on their home turf…well, that makes her a cowardly whore.
I am pleasantly surprised to see a good number of people defending her. She performed and her fans left happy. Her job is done. Leave the politics to others.
*From another comment thread where people spoke of Muslim clothing as being “threatening.”
Regarding the comment regarding Pelosi and her attire; most young people are not influenced by an older person as they are an young international entertainer.
Manners/Customs or not, that is NOT what I am talking about. I would prefer to not see you youth mimicking the likes of Islam as a NEW fashion statement. Next it will be there minds that will be influenced.
THINK outside the box here folks.
correction; OUR YOUTH not you youth
Since her whole act is what the fans want to see, I think she should have passed on the concert.
Actually I think she should have gone on stage wearing a burka, and made a point of chaning into a different one between songs.
But then again, being a smartass about it would just result in some sort of seething riot and probably a fatwa.
Yeah, pants and a shirt. That would be crazy if the kids started wearing trousers and polo shirts. Like, the kids are not alright.
AxelAnnie, if I go to a synagogue for a bat mitzvah or something like that, I’d have to cover my head out of respect, right? Man, that would make me such a Dhimmi!
I thought Gwen Stafani was an AC-TOR. Shows how much I know.
I can imagine the snit she’d get into here if a church or religious organization asked her to tone down her hootchie-kootchie show. We’d never hear the end of “freedom of speech” and artistic expression.
What a load of hooey.
You can wave the “Ugly American” banner around all you want but there isn’t another nation on this earth that has brought more freedom and prosperity to others than the USA. When others get even close to our record, I’ll show a little “respect” for their “culture”.
Since when did she have ANY credibility as a ‘punk rocker’? Except for the first album with No Doubt (which itself was rather on the pop side of punk) she’s been mainstream pop.
I don’t mind that she covered up–except for the implied threat if she didn’t. That’s the difference between respecting cultures and being frightened by other cultures.
What struck me is that she played to an audience of a mere 7,000. Shows the desperate straits of the music industry.
Dhimmi…I’m with Old Tanker (#22) on this one. If this scenario played out here in the states and the same objections were raised by pastors in some Bible Belt hamlet Ol’ Gwen would’ve been all outrage and defiance. Courageously standing up to censorship and what not.
But when faced with people who can turn the mic off she submits and cashes the check.
Typical feckless leftoid.
In 1967 Mick Jagger famously reworded “Let’s Spend the Night Together” to appease the producers of The Ed Sullivan Show. Jim Morrison handled things differently and was never invited back. Entertainers have always made concessions to the marketplace in order to sell their product (well maybe not the Lizard King). Sometimes it can compromise their rebel image, but most of them have already made myriad compromises to achieve mass popularity.
In the 1930’s Benny Goodman had to avoid playing in the South once he racially integrated his band with musicians like Charlie Christian and Lionel Hampton. That was 70 years ago here. Some of Muslim culture seems to be locked more than 700 years in the past. While one Gwen concert isn’t likely to materially broaden the culture, it is probably more positive than negative.
So, Rusty – if a group of Christians asked Stefani to cover up at a concert here in America…would she do it? Would she have to?
After all, Christians believe in modest dress. Appearing immodestly on stage could be an affront to Christian sensibilities.
But we NEVER hear about those stories, do we? And if we do – Christians and their beliefs are mocked and ridiculed for being “backward” and “archaic.”
There is a clear double-standard here, that you fail to see it is startling.
I want to be with you on this but just can’t.
She held a concert in a foreign country and, without any serious inconvience, respected the demands of a faction there. She was hardly covered completely. The real story here isn’t her dhimmitude, but rather the ongoing extremism and intolerance of too much of Islam.
In fact, I’m glad she went there and performed. The more western influence we can spread, the better. I want “I’m just a girl” being heard by as many young islamic girls as possible! Think about it. Western influence is exactly what the radicals fear, because free thoughts and ideas are their enemy. If she does a concert without showing her belly ring to spread western influences now, less women might be wearing Bourqahs later. I’m okay with that.
Kevin from Ohio in Virginia -
Please be specific, what are you talking about? Because, MM’s post (the cut-n-paste) only speaks to her modifying her wardrobe.
Did she prostrate herself on a small carpet towards Mecca and praise Allah? Did she convert between wardrobe changes? Did she swear off eating pork and drinking liquor?
Talk about whatever you want, but the article spoke to her conduct (in terms of what she wore) in another country, and that is what I addressed in my analogy.
Go ahead, answer the questions.
Playing devil’s advocate here, whenever performers run into this sort of thing, they and their handlers will see it as a “cultural” issue rather than a religious one. Nobody wants to upset the locals over a “cultural” misunderstanding in another country. It’s unlikely Gwen spends her spare time reading Jihad Watch or Little Green Footballs.
It would be nice if more performers took a stand and said, “You don’t have to come and I don’t have to come either.” But so long as their attitude is, “Well, that’s just how folks over there do things” and they want to keep a certain market, it’s not going to happen.
I just discovered she’s coming to play in the arena here in Stockton soon.
I should pretend to be a representative of an all nudist society that is completely offended by her wearing any clothes at all during her show.
Maybe she’ll knuckle under, and the show will actually be worth seeing.
AxelAnnie,Yes you are missing something.You have not made yourself famous by flaunting the rules of good taste and respect.Irreverence is a major part of the rock scene,of which Gwenn is an icon.As others have said,she wouldn’t dress or behave differently for Christian,Jewish or Hindu audiences,so justifying her aquiesence to Muslims as a sign of respect is not valid; it is dhimmitude.
OK, look, we aren’t talking about going into a place of worship here. She had a rock concert. Her clothing was not ‘Islamic’ so it wasn’t that obvious that she had changed. She should have worn what she normally would if SHE thought it was appropriate in front of the children she performs in front of every concert she does in the US.
If it’s about ‘respect’, then how come we can’t DEMAND that the ‘rock stars’ not slam our President in their shows? Could we DEMAND that the Dixie Chicks not bad mouth our Commander-In-Chief? After all, that’s not very respectful is it? Of course that disrespect got them a truckload of grammys.
I guess disrespect is only disrespectful if you want it to be. She should have said it’s my show and if you want me there, I’m doing it how I always do it.
Instead, her actions explained to everyone that she was ‘just a girl’ because if she was a boy they wouldn’t have had a problem with her dress. Being a girl makes a HUGE difference in Muslim countries.
Agreed it is a non-story. But it is a shame that she thought it important enough to make a decision to change the show that ‘millions’ of fans already saw.
Bah. Of all the things to complain about, this is low on the scale. Why do we want an old woman to expose herself? I’m an old man, and I have the decency to keep my oldness under clothes. Why would you expect her not to?
If they were arresting her for showing an arm or something, that would be news. But they didn’t, so maybe we should cheer the often misogynistic Islamophiles for a change. This seems to be a win for the west.
Speaking as an old man, I must ask: who wants to see an old woman undressed for a long time?
(this was my first pro-islam post ever. Prolly my last too.)
Please, Malaysia is *not* an islamic country. We do not practice Sharia and while there are certain quarters who are very keen on declaring Malaysia as an Islamic state, there are many others who are seeking to fight such a move.
Here’s an article from Lim Kit Siang’s blog. Here. He’s the ex-opposition leader in malaysia and still commands a lot of respect from the 30% non-muslims in the country.
Dunno about THAT pgtips. I only have a single friend in your country, but she says it’s already “scary muslim” (her words).
Difference being, she’s hot.
Hey, I’m chubby, so am often hot myself!
Looks like Beyonce is caving to the pressure too.
http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12387