Ooberfuse tribute to Shahbaz Bhatti

Catholic band Ooberfuse, have written a special song to honour the memory of those who lose their lives in defence of the marginalised and oppressed.

They have been asked to perform it at a peace rally in London on 10 March to commemorate Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan government minister who was gunned down last year after speaking out against Pakistan's new Blasphemy Laws, which legalise indiscriminate acts of violence against non-Islamic groups such as Sikhs, Hindus, Christians.

Front-woman of the band, Cherrie said: "We were very touched to have been asked to participate in the rally and concert. It proved to be a grave and solemn undertaking to capture musically the sense of outrage which the spilling of innocent blood naturally arouses. We had to balance these feelings with a heart-felt cry to those forces in the world that feed on violence. A positive message of peace and reconciliation is contained in the song. We hope it will help to defuse the rage that fuels such atrocities and abominations."

Hal from Ooberfuse added: "in our research for the song we looked at extremely disturbing footage. Shahbaz's car, after a visit to his elderly mother's house, was riddled with bullets and spattered with blood following his assassination. We also watched an interview with Shahbaz weeks before he was killed in which he anticipates further suffering and continuing death threats.

"The song: 'Blood Cries Out', samples a phrase from the interview in which Shahbaz says he has experienced already the suffering of the cross. It is a tragic irony that Shahbaz's message to those who would listen was Christ's very own "Do not kill in the name of religion, but love each other."

'Blood Cries Out' is available as a free download. It will be performed during the rally and peace concert on 10 March in Trafalgar Square. Attendees gather at the Pakistani Embassy in Lowndes Square, London, at 10.30am for the march which culminates at 3pm with the rally and concert in Trafalgar Square. The event has been organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association in association with Aid to the Church in Need.

Blood Cries Out is available as a free download from: www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_12123741

Ooberfuse (www.ooberfuse.com) is an experimental music project led by Cherrie and Hal. In the publicity they say they "share a common vision to infuse the increasingly moribund traditions of western pop with fresh eastern vigour. By refusing the standard conventions that determine the contemporary pop scene they invite their audience to rediscover ooberfuse-iasm not just for contemporary pop but for life itself!"

In addition to performing in front of two million young pilgrims in the Madrid World Youth Day in 2011 they also sang the Youth Anthem for Pope Benedict's visit to the UK in 2010.