Grammy-Award-Winning Singer, Erykah Badu Explains Why She Was Banned In Malaysia

Grammy-award-winning singer Erykah Badu is the latest to test taste limits in Malaysia, as the R&B musician's concert – scheduled for this Wednesday evening – was banned after a photo published in a local newspaper showed the Arabic word for Allah painted on her body.

At a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, both the singer and her concert promoters confirmed the ban and the concert's cancellation, promising refunds to disappointed fans.

"Because of this one image we don't get to be together," said Ms. Badu, speaking at the press conference in Kuala Lumpur, where she had been for the past few days. "It is sad because we traveled a long way to do it."

The Malaysian government has labeled pictures showing Ms. Badu's body art, which included the Arabic word for Allah, an "insult" to Islam, the dominant religion in the country. Permanent tattoos are considered "haram," or forbidden, according to some interpretations of the Qu'ran, and using the word "Allah" casually or in vain is deemed disrespectful and offensive to many Muslims.

Ms. Badu said at the press conference the image was not a permanent tattoo, and none of the offending material remains on her body. The singer's body art was part of a photoshoot, in which she was depicted to resemble a film character, and does not have any permanent tattoos on her body.