Baghdad'''s answer to Metallica, Acrassicauda (the Latin for a type of scorpion), has been staying in Turkey and may now have to return to Iraq. The band, which claims to be Iraqi'''s only heavy-metal outfit, initially fled to Syria to avoid violence and ''"specific death threats''" from insurgent groups, then moved to Istanbul. The musicians have not been welcome in Turkey, especially since fighting has increased between Kurdish rebels and Turkish forces.
Acrassicauda was the subject of the Heavy Metal in Baghdad documentary, directed by Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi of Canada and to be released in early 2008. The directors have begun a campaign to find the musicians another home, and the website heavymetalbaghdad.com has a link to make donations.
Marwan of Acrassicauda told Reuter'''s Mike Collett-White, ''"If we go back to Baghdad now, we'''ll just stay at home as prisoners, not even go out to buy a packet of cigarettes.''" [Reuters]