Censored Sounds: “El Horia”

Rapper Khaled Harara is considered an “enemy of the state” of Palestine. His lyrics criticize the humanitarian situation in Palestine and lack of freedom of expression under Hamas rule. While living as a refugee in Gaza, he organized hip hop workshops for youth with a focus on writing and self-expression. The workshops, his artist organization, and his group “Palestinian Unit” were banned, and Khaled was subjected to interrogations, imprisonment, and torture.

Khaled Harara was ICORN musician-in-residence of the Gothenburg City of Refuge in Sweden from 2013 to 2015.

Cover image by Joakim Roos.