5 Muslim Artists Who Changed The World

When freedom of expression started disappearing, these five brave souls risked it all for love, art, and humanity.

1. Amjad Sabri

Youtube / Via thewire.in

A prolific Sufi singer in the Qawwali tradition, Amjad Sabri was an internationally renowned musician dedicated to a mystical form of devotional music. Based in Pakistan, Amjad was a brilliant pioneer who crossed political divides to perform all over South Asia. His Indian fans dubbed him, "the Rockstar of Qawwali." In a country where hard-line fundamentalism is growing, he represented an inclusive religious tradition rooted in the Quranic ideals of love and mercy. As a result, he was targeted by extremists. On June 22nd, 2016 while on his way to a performance to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, Amjad was brutally gunned down on the streets of Karachi. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility, stating that he had committed "blasphemy." His murder has left a hole in the hearts of his fans the world over, music lovers who are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, and Jewish. He reached the hearts of all humankind, and his legacy of love will never be forgotten.

2. Paradise Sorouri (143Band)

143 Band/From the music video, "Nalestan" (Land of Lament)

Paradise Sarouri, part of the dynamic duo that is the 143Band, is Afghanistan's first female rapper. A brilliantly defiant voice in a society that seeks to silence women’s voices, she is a rising star in Afghan music. Along with her bandmate/fiancé Diverse, they create songs that confront violence against women, misogyny, and the hypocrisy of Afghanistan's patriarchal culture. In 2013, hardline Islamists threatened Sarouri to stop her work, yet she continues to perform on stage despite the risk to her safety. "I wear whatever I want, and the public does not like it. Whenever [I am] on stage singing about [the struggles of women,] people criticize me, accusing me of only promoting negativity and singing against Islam. In these people’s minds, if you talk about the hardships that women experience...you are a [blasphemer.]" She and Diverse are living in Germany, where they study, work, and continue to make music.

3. Ashraf Fayadh

Ashraf Fayadh / Via news.artnet.com

Ashraf Fayadh is a poet of Palestinian origins. The son of refugees from the Gaza strip, he resides in Saudi Arabia. He gained notoriety for his exhibitions of Saudi art in Saudi Arabia and Europe, most notably for his involvement with the British-Arabian arts organization, Edge of Arabia. In 2014 he was imprisoned by the Saudi government and charged with "apostasy." His crime was distributing a book of his poems. The Saudi government claims that these poems promoted Atheism. He was sentenced to be beheaded in February 2016, but his attorney convinced a Saudi court to overturn the death sentence. His punishment was reduced to 8 years in prison, 800 lashes, and a public apology on social media. He remains in custody, awaiting the first series of lashes.

4. Hila Sedighi

Hila Sedighi / Via albawaba.com

Hila Sedighi is one of Iran’s most celebrated young poets. An ardent supporter of the Green Revolution, Sedighi rose to prominence in 2009 following the disputed election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when she recited poems of resistance at democratic protests. Sedighi was arrested in January of 2016. She told the International Campaign for Human rights in Iran, “My arrest warrant was issued by the Culture and Media Court, but those who arrested me did not have any information about the charges against me.” She was released two days later but due to her vocal resistance to the current regime she constantly faces the threat of such arrests, and has been interrogated by intelligence services several times. A true patriot and agent for change, she refuses to leave Iran, stating that, “This is my country, no one can force me to leave.”

5. Qandeel Baloch (Fouzia Azeem)

Via dawn.com

Known by her stage name “Qandeel Baloch,” Fouzia Azeem was a Pakistani model, actress, feminist activist, and social media celebrity. Baloch gained notoriety due to the sensational nature of her videos on social media. She was open and cavalier about discussing her life as well as issues facing women in Pakistani society. She owned her feminine power and was unashamed of her female body, a concept that threatened Pakistan’s patriarchal system of dominance. In 2013 she auditioned for Pakistan Idol and became an Internet celebrity when her audition video went viral. She was a figure who was both celebrated and denigrated merely for being herself. At the height of her popularity, she was one of the top 10 Google searches in Pakistan. On July 15th, 2016, Fouzia became another victim of "honor-based" violence when she was asphyxiated in her sleep by her brother, Waseem Azeem.