The Kashmir band, Pragaash, have been forced to split up after a hate campaign was waged against them and a state-appointed Fatwa was used to ensure their disbanding, the NME reports. 

The all-female band was made up of Noma Nazir (vocals/guitar), Aneeqa Khalid (bass) and Farah Deeba (drums). The state official who issued the Fatwa dubbed the band 'indecent', and the hate campaign lead to teenagers being branded 'prostitutes'. The band seemed to be doing well, having only performed like first last December (2012) and winning a battle of the bands competition in their home city. Since the campaign and the state censorship one of the band has fled the city.

A top government official for the region seems to be in favour of the band, however, ruling that police will investigate the threats made against them, adding "the talented teenagers should not let themselves be silenced by a handful of morons." Fatwas are not legally binding, but are a part of the Islamic faith and can be issued by a 'scholar'. One edict of contemporary considerations of Fatwas requires it to be 'adequate with the needs of the contemporary world,' according to an article on NewAgeIslam.com. There are no details as to what either the public or the cleric found against the girls, but if it for performing music then that is arguably against that edict.

Their manager left a statement saying: "First, the girls had decided to quit live performance due to an online hate campaign and concentrate on making an album. But after an edict by the government's own cleric, these girls are saying goodbye to music." Hopefully this wont really be the end for the girls.