Report: Iraqi Heavy Metal Rockers Find New Home In Turkey

December 6, 2007

Sarah Rainsford of BBC News reports: After fleeing the violence in Iraq, the struggling band ACRASSICAUDA has found a home in Turkey.

They call themselves the only heavy metal band in Baghdad.

But for over a year now ACRASSICAUDA has been on the run.

The band members first fled the violence in Iraq for Syria. But after Damascus tightened the visa rules for Iraqi refugees this October they fled again, for Turkey.

"We used to just go to the Syrian border and get our visas. It was a one-day trip," guitarist Firas al-Lateef explains. "Then they made an announcement that you have to go to Baghdad, and stay there for almost like a month."

"What is the point of that?" drummer Marwan Ryad interrupts.

"If I could stay in Baghdad even for one day and survive, I would stay down there. So we didn't have another choice but Turkey."

Other refugees have begun returning to Iraq from Syria in recent weeks.

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