Ed Punk Band Pussy Riot

[Ethan Thane Athen]

Could have put this in 'Politics' I suppose or even 'Arts' - Mods feel free to move as I really wasn't sure which was most appropriate...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19046792

Not that surprised this could happen in Russia (in that they criticised Putin) but more surprised there isn't a bigger outcry and stunned that an interview with a (Russian) member of the public (youngish woman) who said 'They offended me as a christian therefore they should go to prison' went unremarked except to say it was a view echoed by many in Russia.

All they did was film a video in a cathedral of themselves singing a protest song asking god to remove Putin. They didn't damage anything in the cathedral, they didn't desecrate the altar or anything - just videoed themselves and had a bit of a tussle (just struggling to get free) with some people who tried to eject them.

Forget the Putin bit, we all know how dangerous that could be, what they're being tried for and have half the Russian people apparently against them (Russia is described as being 'divided' over the issue) for is 'offending peoples religion'. For that they may get 5 - 7 years in prison!

This is an outrage. Why isn't there more fuss from the international community etc? Presumably because we all need Russia's gas...

Sodding communists didn't do a good enough job of wiping out the Russian Orthodox Church.

 

[Multivac]

Could have put this in 'Politics' I suppose or even 'Arts' - Mods feel free to move as I really wasn't sure which was most appropriate...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19046792

Not that surprised this could happen in Russia (in that they criticised Putin) but more surprised there isn't a bigger outcry and stunned that an interview with a (Russian) member of the public (youngish woman) who said 'They offended me as a christian therefore they should go to prison' went unremarked except to say it was a view echoed by many in Russia.

All they did was film a video in a cathedral of themselves singing a protest song asking god to remove Putin. They didn't damage anything in the cathedral, they didn't desecrate the altar or anything - just videoed themselves and had a bit of a tussle (just struggling to get free) with some people who tried to eject them.

Forget the Putin bit, we all know how dangerous that could be, what they're being tried for and have half the Russian people apparently against them (Russia is described as being 'divided' over the issue) for is 'offending peoples religion'. For that they may get 5 - 7 years in prison!

This is an outrage. Why isn't there more fuss from the international community etc? Presumably because we all need Russia's gas...

Sodding communists didn't do a good enough job of wiping out the Russian Orthodox Church.

Not what I was expecting from the thread title!

 

[Ethan Thane Athen]

Not what I was expecting from the thread title!

I thought it might get some attention and, as that's the name of the band, it's perfectly legitimate!

 

[Arcade22]

Why isn't there more fuss from the international community etc?

Because there is nothing controversial about censoring and punishing people for obscene and offensive speech.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Because when Russia does things, everyone shrugs. History has taught us one thing: Russia don't change. It was like that under the Tsars, it was like that under the Soviets, and it's like that now.

 

[Jeff Corey]

Link doesn't give details, so I can't find what is "obscene and offensive speech."

 

[Childlike Empress]

This is an outrage. Why isn't there more fuss from the international community etc? Presumably because we all need Russia's gas...

It started to build yesterday, that's why you are aware of it now.

You're right, this is more about offending the church than Putin (they did other anti-Putin actions before). Here is an interesting article containing an interview with a church spokesman and Archpriest who is a REAL piece of work: Pussy Riot, Putin and God's love

[...] Pussy Riot’s “punk prayer” was a sign of growing disquiet among even Orthodox believers over what critics say is the Church’s political clout and persistent rumors of the luxuriant lifestyles of its leading officials.

Patriarch Kirill came under unprecedented criticism in April after he insisted in an interview with a Russian journalist that he had never worn a $30,000 Breguet watch he had been given as a gift. Any photographs of him doing so had likely been doctored, he suggested.

But eagle-eyed bloggers quickly discovered on the Church’s official Web site a photograph of Kirill with the watch in question on his wrist. Less than 24 hours later, the watch had been airbrushed out. Unfortunately for the Church, the inattentive editor had left intact the tell-tale refection of the luxury timepiece on a varnished table, triggering a storm of online mockery.

“It was a bad decision to remove the watch,” Chaplin says simply. “Pure stupidity.”

“But I believe the patriarch has the right to wear any watch he wants,” he insists. “When I hosted my own radio program, an ordinary woman called me once and said ‘if I had the money, I would buy him a diamond-studded watch because he is my patriarch.’ Most people think like that. It’s a Russian Orthodox tradition.”[...]

 

[chillzero]

Because when Russia does things, everyone shrugs. History has taught us one thing: Russia don't change. It was like that under the Tsars, it was like that under the Soviets, and it's like that now.

So should we all just join the shrugging and ignore injustice?

 

[Childlike Empress]

Link doesn't give details, so I can't find what is "obscene and offensive speech."

The action in question:

 

[Ryokan]

Norwegian media has covered it. The girls who are still not arrested have given intervies to British media while in hiding.

I love these girls, and wish there was something I could do to help. As someone who is active in politics in a country where doing so is quife safe, I can't help but admire those who do it despite risking their freedom and their lives.

 

[TragicMonkey]

So should we all just join the shrugging and ignore injustice?

No, we should put together an invasion. This time, let's send the Mongols, French, and Germans in simultaneously. During the summer. I think that's key, the timing.

 

[Dave Rogers]

No, we should put together an invasion. This time, let's send the Mongols, French, and Germans in simultaneously. During the summer. I think that's key, the timing.

How's next June 22nd for you?

Dave

 

[Ethan Thane Athen]

Because there is nothing controversial about censoring and punishing people for obscene and offensive speech.

Do you consider singing a song, in church, calling on god and the virgin mary to remove a tyrant from office as 'obscene and offensive speech'?

As I say, I could understand Putin objecting but it's the church and members of it that want to see them punished with between 5 - 7 years imprisonment - oh and apparently their actions prove they're 'agents of satan'.

More details:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...iant-as-hooliganism-trial-begins-7987976.html

 

[Bikewer]

NPR's The World has on occasion interviewed various Russian "man on the street" types... The consensus seems to be that they are willing to trade freedom for "security" or "order". This seems to be deeply ingrained...

 

[Beerina]

God has infinite power and doesn't need the help of finite mortals to kill off his political enemies.

Wise countries disallow government from censoring people. Even this asinine "offensive" exemption immediately breeds a feigned offense industry to shut people up.

Mockery is one of the most important tools in the free speech golfbag.

 

[JJM 777]

what they're being tried for (...) is 'offending peoples religion'. For that they may get 5 - 7 years in prison

How much of their treatment is because of being anti-Putin, and how much is for violating the untouchability of a church, could be estimated by comparing what happens to similar protest singers who do it elsewhere than in a church.

My blind guess is that it is mostly about violating the untouchability of a church. I agree that the punkrockers committed a crime by the standards of any country in the world, a routine security guard issue. Try this at White House and you will get in touch with the security guards. But severity of the punishment is not in line with typical international standards.

 

[Arcade22]

Do you consider singing a song, in church, calling on god and the virgin mary to remove a tyrant from office as 'obscene and offensive speech'?

No but evidently there are people who do. Why should their disapproval be considered less important than, for example, the pathetic indignation of the Jews who cry and moan about holocaust denial?

 

[Multivac]

I thought it might get some attention and, as that's the name of the band, it's perfectly legitimate!

Hadn't heard of them before reading your link, but I agree it is a great name for a band!

 

[Foolmewunz]

So should we all just join the shrugging and ignore injustice?

Derail...


Chill! How are you?

/Derail

 

[zooterkin]

Things are happening to raise the awareness of this.
http://news.yahoo.com/british-pop-stars-demand-fair-trial-russian-rockers-015341189.html

A group of British musicians including Pete Townshend and the Pet Shop Boys have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin, due in London on Thursday, to give a fair trial to punk band Pussy Riot.
In a letter published in Thursday's Times newspaper, the twelve musicians called the charges against the three female band members "preposterous".
"Dissent is a right in any democracy and it is entirely disproportionate that they face seven years in jail for what we consider a preposterous charge of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred'," the musicians wrote.