When Did Lebanon Start Arresting People for Devil Worship?

Great reporting from Ana Maria Luca who dug up this factoid:

The authorities’ hunt for “Satanists” started in 1996 when a high-ranking military officer’s son, a fan of heavy metal, shot himself with his father’s gun. “Slowly reports in some newspapers started to accuse hard rock and metal music of making young people commit suicide.” This was the trigger for the first “Satanist” hunt in Lebanon.

“[Hard rock and metal music] were depicted as an epidemic, as the new pest. ‘If this music gets to your child’s ears, he/she will commit suicide.’ This was the message,” Deaibess said.

Read the whole thing, it’s full of interesting tidbits. Then in case you haven’t read it, check out my writeup on why the “Devil Worship” charge should be replaced with a clear “Anti-social behavior” law.