Supreme Court Removes Ban on 'Narco-Corridos' Songs about Crime in Sinaloa CNN Mexico
go to original February 16, 2013

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) this week reversed the decision of the state government of Sinaloa, in northern Mexico, to ban narcocorridos, songs about drug cartel crime, in bars, pubs and nightclubs.

The justices determined that the decree, issued in May 2011, by Gov. Mario Lopez Valdez, is unconstitutional because he "exceeded the performance of his duties" by making decisions that are the responsibiliy of the state legislature.

The supreme court upheld a constitutional challenge brought by the Congress of the State of Sinaloa. The Undersecretary for Inspection and Regulation of the Secretariat of Governmentof the state government, Bernardo Cardenas Soto, said the government of Sinaloa will respect the decision of the Supreme Court.

Cardenas Soto said that although the Court is guaranteeing freedom of expression, Sinaloa society loses because the initiative was promoted "with the intention of creating a social conscience to reject expressions that promote advocacy of crime."

Beginning in May 2011, the government decided to cancel the licenses and deny their renewal to all bars, restaurants and nightclubs that allowed performances of this type of norteña [northern regional] music.

In removing the ban, the justices declared invalid the Regulation of the Law on the Operation and Functioning of Establishments Aimed at the Production, Distribution, Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages, which was created to regulate the presentation of that kind of music.

The state government had banned narcocorridos arguing that they extol "criminal, antisocial and/or illegal activities."

See Spanish original

Posted by Reed Brundage at Mexico Voices

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