Iranian-Kuwaiti Singer Condemned By Clerics For Singing In Hebrew

As performers, we are often asked to portray unsavory characters that are nothing like us. I have played many different parts in my career as an actress, some that are the polar opposite of what I stand for politically and spiritually. The last part I played was a mentally ill woman who winds up killing her mother, who happens to be equally dysfunctional. Does that mean I am compromising my politics or my spirituality by playing those kinds of parts? No. Does it mean I condone murder? Of course not. But there are some very stupid people who can't seem to understand that as performers, we are there to entertain, or sometimes educate, and yes sometimes even make a statement, but for the most part we just do our jobs, setting aside our preconceived notions and prejudices.

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It's the same thing for singers. Unless the lyrics they are singing are politically charged, they are there to bring sweetness to our ears no matter what language they happen to be singing. The one thing about music is that it is universal- one doesn't need to understand the language of the lyrics to appreciate it, and most singers will sing songs in many different languages, as does Emma Shah, 28, an Iranian-Kuwaiti singer/composer. Obviously talented Shah has written many songs from Arabic to French and even including Japanese and Russian. No-one seemed to have problems with her diversity until she chose to write a song in Hebrew, it was then that she had the religious bigots seeing red.

After singing in Hebrew at a recent gathering in Kuwait City's Alumni Club, she's now being accused of promoting Zionism and normalization of ties with Israel, reports the UAE-based English newspaper Gulf News.

Her performance upset Kuwaiti religious figures, including the religious scholar Sheikh Mohammad Awadhi. In an article published in the Kuwaiti daily Al Rai newspaper, he condemned the singer for "alien attitudes that clash with the spirit, culture and values of the Kuwaiti society."

Some people are "abusing freedom to explain their behavior even if it is irrational. Unfortunately, there are those who are being exploited to disseminate certain ideas that promote Zionism," Gulf News quoted the Sheikh as writing.

Promoting Zionism because she happened to sing a song in Hebrew? Hebrew is the language of the Jews. What happened to distinguishing between Zionism and Judaism? It's just more proof that those who claim they are not anti-Semitic but merely anti-Zionist are bald-faced liars. If one sings in Chinese does that mean they support communism? Or if a Westerner were to sing in Arabic, would that mean they were condoning Islamic terrorism? Think about it? How stupid is that mode of thinking. It's totally illogical. And the fact the song was promoting peace and harmony, that I would hope would be the goal of every human being on this planet, makes it even more poignant and important. But I guess not. Shah was very shocked at the reception received, and rightfully so.

Shah, meanwhile, says she is shocked over the accusations and negative feedback for singing a song that calls for peace and harmony. The singer also said the same song has been performed by the Egyptian-Italian diva Dalida in both Hebrew and French and that she was only following her example.

Shah reportedly sang "Come … Let us rejoice, be happy, enjoy" in Hebrew before the crowd at the club. She shrugs off allegations that she insulted Arabs with her performance.

"Unfortunately, our media focuses on wars and problems, and not on meaningful work. I have written in Russian and performed in Arabic, English, Spanish, Japanese and French. Does that make me a spy for France or Britain?" she said acidly according to local media reports.

It is not the first time Shah's singing has angered Sheikh Awadhi. She claims he chided her on a previous occasion for singing about Jesus.

"He had criticized me in the past for a song about Jesus, and I see no motive for his attacks on me," she said. "I am well versed in all religions, sects and creeds and I do not have a problem with anyone. I love all people and there are Christians and people with various religious beliefs in my audience," she concluded.

It's rather ironic that a performer would have more common sense and intelligence than a Sheikh. We performers are usually criticized for being flakes and not being the smartest of people, and yet if the world was ruled by entertainers and athletes, rather than politicians and religious clerics this world would be at peace, because we all get along. We realize that the project is what is important and not our individual egos. Too bad the rest of the world can't get along.