Haroon Bacha, age 36, is a musician from Pakistan. Haroon’s music is very popular in Pakistan. He sings about peace and the resistance to war. About a year ago, he started getting threats telling him to stop singing. Bacha said “there were letters, phone calls, and text messages.” The letters, calls, and messages where threatening his life and the life of his family. The Taliban’s were the ones who were sending these threats to him. The Taliban were threatening him because they just kicked off a “campaign” against music and the western culture. A couple of months ago he moved to New York, leaving his whole family behind. He said “if I return I will be killed.” This is just another story we here about how much some extremists groups hate the western culture. He was exiled because he loved playing and singing music. I believe he came to American because he knew that he would be able to sing about whatever he wants. He wouldn’t receive text messages or other forms of contact tell him to stop. And most of all, his life wouldn’t be threaten. He said that the Taliban’s are taking everything away, “We have lost everything. We have lost music, we have lost local games, and we have lost children playing in the street.” I really couldn’t imagine having my life ruled by a radical group. The worst part about this is he might never be able to see his family again, because he is in fear of his life. I couldn’t imagine saying goodbye and thinking about if I was going to see them again. Bacha to me, is a hero in is own ways. He continued to play when they told him to stop, he continued to play when he left his family, and he continued to play in a foreign land. He sings about peace, and peace is one necessity we need in our world.
New York Times
New York Times
By: Ben Sisario
Picture from: Ramin Talaie for The New York Times
Published: October 12, 2008
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