Troll or hero? The sex blogger who’s offending Muslims
(BBC) – “Just because you slap the name of God or the label ‘religion’ on something, doesn’t mean it’s impervious to criticism. It doesn’t mean it can’t be discussed or analysed.”
Sex blogger, agent provocateur, trouble-maker – or freedom of speech activist?
These are all phrases that one of Malaysia’s most infamous bloggers, Alvin Tan, uses to describe himself. He has a history of posts that have been highly divisive in the Muslim majority nation, and his latest stunt has involved once again offending Muslim sensibilities with a controversial Facebook post.
In the video, Tan, bare-chested and wearing sunglasses, plays the piano while singing a lyrically garbled version of the Azan – the Muslim call to prayer. Underneath the video, he has written: “Please don’t badger me about the wrong lyrics … First, this is a cover, so creative modification is permitted. Second, I ain’t a suicide bomber.”
It’s been watched more than 400,000 times and, as might be expected, it has prompted extremely strong reactions, especially from Muslims. “Alvin Tan, shame on you!” one commented. “This is one of the [most] terrible insults I ever seen,” another said. “Disgusting.” Others, though were more complimentary. “Good effort … I’m Muslim & I’m not angry,” read one comment. “One day you will be one of of us, brother.”
Tan’s posts expose the running debate in Malaysia about religion. About 60 percent of Malaysians are Muslim, mostly from the Malay ethnic group. But it’s a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country, with significant Buddhist, Christian and Hindu minorities. More than a fifth of Malaysians are, like Tan, of Chinese ancestry. He justifies his statements by claiming to stand up for secular, liberal values – and says the fact he’s been arrested for what he’s posted shows how Malaysia doesn’t guarantee freedom of speech.
But his views are certainly not universally popular among non-Muslims in the country. “Alvin Tan is going too far. But for sure, his behaviour & attitude doesn’t represent Chinese community in Malaysia. So blame him, not the Chinese,” one Twitter user wrote.
From a sex blog to jail
Tan, once a promising law student, and his ex-girlfriend, Vivian Lee, initially shot to fame after they posted a sex video, and then began a softer-core but still fairly explicit blog and YouTube channel. Their online activity was considered shocking by many in Malaysia, and they were soon drawing comparisons to the Kardashians.
They also used their notoriety to take provocative and deliberate aim at Muslim sentiments. Two years ago, on the eve of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, they posted a picture of themselves eating a pork dish while sending holiday wishes to Muslims.
That photo, and the explicit content they posted online, got them arrested on charges of sedition. This is where his claims about free speech come in: Malaysia’s sedition laws have been criticised by the US State Department (pdf) and by Human Rights Watch, in part because they can be used to prosecute those who criticise religion and offend believers.
Tan told BBC Trending that, in his view, he’s being persecuted by the Malaysian government. “My intention was to expose the extremism and violence that have become commonplace in Malaysia for many years, so much so that the label ‘model moderate Muslim nation’ should no longer be bestowed upon her,” he says.
Malaysia’s government won’t comment on the specifics of his case while it is still ongoing, and the authorities are seeking his extradition from the US. In the past, officials have said that legal restrictions on offensive speech are vital to maintaining harmony between Malaysia’s different races and religions. One government adviser commented that delays in prosecuting Tan have already given too much space to others who “revile religion.”
