Last updated: Saturday, August 9, 2008

M.I.A. EMBROILED IN LEGAL BATTLE OVER 'TERRORIST SUPPORT' CLAIMS

British rapper M.I.A. has found herself at the centre of a legal wrangle, after she was accused of supporting a Sri Lankan terrorist group by using its tiger imagery in her music videos.

M.I.A. at the MoMA's 40th Annual Party In The Garden at the Museum of Modern Art. New York City, USA - 10.06.08

Sri Lankan hip-hop artist DeLon has created a video which openly questions whether fellow native M.I.A. - whose father is the co-founder of militant group EROS, which had links to the Liberation Tiger Tamils of Eelam (LTTE) - advocates the terrorist organisation's actions.

In the footage, which was posted on video-sharing website YouTube.com, he remixes M.I.A.'s track Paper Planes with clips of Tamil Tiger bombings and child soldiers, citing the frequent use of their tiger symbols in her clothes and videos as reason for suspicion.

Marshall Shen, head of DeLon's record label, Ceylon, says, "In the video, we didn't really accuse her of being a Tamil Tiger. But we're asking, why she is putting these images out there if she doesn't support them?"

M.I.A.'s bosses at Interscope Records served DeLon with a cease-and-desist letter, forcing him to remove the video from the site and claiming it endangers "M.I.A.'s reputation as a freedom fighter".

The star - real name Mathangi Arulpragasam - has defended herself against similar accusations in the past, and said in a 2005 interview: "I've heard lots of people say that I'm part of a terrorist group and I'm singing about that, and singing songs for them, but that's wack (not true), I'd never do that."

DeLon and his label executives have hit back with a lawsuit against Interscope claiming their actions have infringed his First Amendment rights, which prohibits laws "respecting an establishment of religion".

And M.I.A. has now waded into the argument, slamming DeLon's allegations and accusing him of trying to gain publicity for himself.

In a statement to Pitchforkmedia.com, she says, "As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee.

"Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion."

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Source: WENN

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