The Yellow Dogs, a band from Tehran, Iran are just one of the many bands involved in the controversy surrounding rock music in Muslim countries.

The Islam religion is practiced by 21% of the world, making it the second biggest religion following Christianity. Since the 17^th century when the religion was first discovered by Prophet Muhammad who wrote the Quran, the beliefs were said to be sent from their creator Allah. This religion is followed by strict laws of the way a person who practices them should act and live. Laws vary in limitations women are prohibited to drive, music is banned, along with alcohol, and all dogs must be killed, these are just a few of the odd laws they have.

The Islam religion bans rock music for valid reasons, they believe. It is proven that music brings out emotion which could tempt a person. The Islamic people do not want their people to be rebellious and do things they are prohibited from doing. The people of this religion also believe that rock music is satanic and anyone who takes part in listening or creating rock should be sent to jail.

The Yellow Dogs are a perfect example of people who love rock music, yet live in a Muslim based country where it is not allowed.

In 2007, the Yellow Dogs formed their secret underground rock band. They played in small secret clubs and shared their love for music with the other lawbreakers that can’t hide their love for rock. Iran does not tolerate rock and roll whatsoever and they do send people to jail, that is if the band doesn’t seek asylum to another country first. “We never wanted to be in a position to run away from Iran, but they put you under this pressure and repression,” said Iranian actor Ashkan Koshanejad.

The Yellow Dogs, along with musicians, were featured in a documentary about the rock music scene in Iran called “No One Knows About Persian Cats.” After the documentary was released to the public, it was not long before the Iranian government found it. The band soon was showered with threats from the government. They were going to be faced with jail time. So, for the love of their music they fled to east Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York in 2010, along with another band, The Free Keys.

Tragically on November 11, 2013 the band came to a tragic end. The former bass player of the both the Yellow Dogs and the Free Keys, Ali Akbar Mohammed Rafie, shot and killed brothers Soroush Farazmand and Arash Farazmand, the guitarist and drummer for the Yellow Dogs, along with Iranian musician Ali Eskandarian. Shortly after, Rafie fled and shot himself in the head. Only two members of the Yellow Dogs remain, but their band should not be remembered because of this tragedy, but for their fight for freedom. The Yellow Dogs were able to flee Iran to express their love and passion for music.

“We’re musicians first. Our nationality shouldn’t hold us back or make us special. We live in the situation we live in, and we can only find a way to make this movement more thriving. But we are musicians first,” said Iranian singer Ali Azimi.