Moroccan Judge Jails Metalheads

Their heavy metal music not only shook the walls of Casablanca's nightclubs and their parents' middle class homes: it also "shook Muslims' faith", according to a judge who has jailed 14 young Moroccan metalheads.

The nine members of the heavy metal bands Nekros, Infected Brain and Reborn, and five fans were given sentences of between three months and a year after being found in possession of skeletons, skulls, cobras, vipers and "a collection of diabolical CDs".

The accused, aged 20 to 35, were arrested three weeks ago for allegedly disturbing public order and wearing satanic, "anti-Islamic" T-shirts depicting the devil and death.

It was all too much for the judge, who found it "suspicious" that one of the musicians penned lyrics in English rather than Arabic, and declared that "normal people go to concerts in a suit and tie".

Not even the heavy metal fans' court recitals of sections of the Koran were able to persuade him that they were not intent on undermining the country's official religion.

"I am disappointed with justice in my country. It is as though the court did not take the trouble to find out the facts," said Soumayah Kortbi, whose brother was jailed.

The sentences have provoked a wave of concern among secular, French-speaking Moroccans.

One defence lawyer called the trial a "witch-hunt aimed at pleasing Islamists".

Driss Ksikes, chief editor of Tel Quel magazine, said: "Morocco's young people will not feel at home in their own country. I think our judicial system needs psychologists if they don't understand that young people are by essence subversive and like to shock."

The conservative Islamic daily Attajdid rounded on the heavy metal fans' supporters, claiming they were part of a movement to "encourage all forms of delinquency, alcohol and licentiousness which are ignored by the authorities".