The Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads as follows: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference…”

In Black- and Pagan Metal, this particular freedom “to hold opinions without interference” is at stake nowadays!

Quite a few bands from our scene do encounter problems when they want to distribute a release or when they want to play live on stage. Their releases are boycotted or banned, and their concerts are cancelled or attacked.  Why? They exercise their human right of free speech and freedom of expression!

A certain group of people, in particular the so-called “Antifa”, is conducting a campaign against our scene. They do not believe in universal human rights; i.e. they deny that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration of Human Rights, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Quite to the contrary, they want to suppress and to silence anyone who does not share their very own political opinion. To this end, they resort to slander, intimidation and violence. They shun the open and public debate, as though they have no valid arguments whatsoever.

It is not uncommon, even among our scene, to excuse the excesses committed by the “Antifa” in regard to bands deemed to be “politically incorrect”. After all, there can be no tolerance for “Fascism and Racism” in Black Metal, right!? This excuse is outright silly, however! Who has the authority to make a generally binding definition of “Fascism and Racism” anyway? If you look at the propaganda from this “Antifa”, then even the democratically elected government of Germany, for instance, is deemed to be “fascist” and “racist” in one way or another. Do you seriously believe that their campaign against our scene does not concern you, because you do subscribe to a political agenda that is deemed to be “leftist” too? Think twice! Anyone who does not share their fundamentalist world view will raise their suspicion sooner or later. Today, they persecute a minority. Tomorrow, they terrorize the majority!

Perhaps you are afraid to speak out against the “Antifa”, because you do not want to be associated with “Nazis”. You would rather give up the universal freedom of expression instead of defending this freedom on behalf of just anyone, regardless of his/her political inclinations?! If this is the case, then it is your freedom of expression that will be abolished at next. Voltaire once said: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This spirit is all but forgotten nowadays, in particular among our scene, is it not?

We do not advocate or condemn any political opinion whatsoever! As a publication, we are dedicated to the music first and foremost. We firmly believe in the right of free speech and of free expression, however! It is the bands only, who can decide how they want to express themselves. Moreover, it is up to the fans only, whether they agree or disagree with the way artists express themselves!  No one has any right to dictate the bands what they must do or must not do, or to dictate the fans what they must listen to or must not listen to.

We call on you to take a stance against the ongoing destructive campaign of the “Antifa”! They do not belong to our scene, and they must not be permitted to police our scene at will! Defend the basic human rights against whoever wants to abolish the freedom of speech, or else there will be no freedom left for anyone at all.  

Our proclamation (in German as well as in English), plus the symbol of this campaign, can be downloaded here: http://ablaze-magazin.de/Black_Metal_Kulturkampf.zip