Germany, Europe's largest economy, has blacklisted 11 dancehall albums between 2008 and January 2010 this year because of their homophobic and violent content.

Albums by Sizzla, Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Capleton, TOK and Baby Cham are on this list, or "index", compiled by the German Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM), Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien in German.

Stakeholders counter that up to 35 dancehall albums or songs had been blacklisted since the BPjM's conception including Legalise It by reggae icon Peter Tosh, which was later removed.

The BPjM told the Sunday Observer that it was illegal to advertise these albums or to sell them to minors in Germany, with additional restrictions placed on their sale and distribution.

"Breach of ...[the] indexing is punishable by a fine or imprisonment," stated Corinna Bochmann, BPjM spokesperson, in response to Sunday Observer queries.

Ten of the 11 albums were not only considered "harmful to young people" but also contained violent lyrics, according to the BPjM, with lyrics that incite hatred and propagate to kill homosexuals.

The BPjM indexed these albums following complaints by certain groups such as the German gay lobby.

"The BPjM can only act on the request of other administrative institutions, not by itself. Once an official request has been filed, the BPjM is obliged to act," stated Bochmann.

Ellen Köhlings, editor of German reggae magazine Riddim, said that dancehall was ironically boosting the gay lobby's agenda.

"These lyrics violate German laws which gives the lobbyists legal grounds to successfully censor music and gain media exposure," she said.

She added that artistes could compromise by maintaining their anti-gay stance but avoiding the use of violence.

"At the end of the day there are much more urgent things to talk about than homophobia, and artistes should leave out . . . the violent bashing of gays."

Riddim magazine has at times assumed the role of dancehall mediator, as the industry has no lobby in Germany.

"We have been doing everything we can to restore the image of Jamaica, but we can do only so much. In the long run Jamaica needs to take action," Köhlings noted.

Violent anti-gay lyrics have been a feature of dancehall music for over 15 years, with the Buju Banton classic Boom Bye Bye credited as its progenitor.