BBC Documentary features Ramy Essam among musicians who “risk dying for a song”

The BBC World Service’s Rex Bloomstein recorded a documentary with musicians from around the world who are being persecuted for “raising their voices against political, cultural or religious repression” for a radio documentary. He talks to artists whose songs have led to their imprisonment, torture and to the continuing threat of violence. Among those interviewed is Ramy Essam, who told Bloomstein about “how he was brutally tortured after his songs rallied the crowds in Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring. Two weeks later, after recovering from his injuries, he was back performing his songs aimed at bringing down the regime of Hosni Mubarak” (runtime 49:29).