( CNN ) -- Roars , growls and galloping hooves replaced music Tuesday on some of Mogadishu 's radio stations in a protest of a ban on music imposed by Islamic extremists . Radio Shabelle , along with the stations Tusmo and Hornafrik , were responding to threats from Muslim militant groups that believe music is un-Islamic and want it prohibited . Mogadishu 's 14 private radio stations stopped playing music Tuesday after Hizbul al-Islam , an Islamic extremist group , issued a 10-day ultimatum . The threat was backed by the main militant group al-Shabaab , which has been linked to al Qaeda . A statement from the National Union of Somali Journalists said several stations received calls , warning them that there would be consequences if they failed to comply with the ban within 10 days . But the three stations decided to broadcast the noises instead of music . Radio Shabelle announcers could be heard speaking on air , backed by the sounds of hooves , ocean waves , gunfire -- even the roars and growls of big cats . A radio station director , who could not be identified because of safety concerns , said the stations were unhappy about the ban but were forced to comply `` because of fear for our lives . '' A Somali journalist , who also asked not to be identified , said there is widespread fear that this marks the beginning of a wider plot by extremists to silence independent media . He fears that female journalists may become the the next target . Hizbul al-Islam is one of many rebel groups operating in the country . The group has a complicated relationship with al-Shabaab ; between them , the two groups control much of Mogadishu , and several radio stations are in neighborhoods under their control . Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991 . Islamic militant groups are fighting the government in an effort to implement a stricter form of Islamic law , or Sharia . Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow contributed to this report .
Somalia 's 14 private radio stations stop playing music after threat from un-Islamic extremists . Militant groups are said to believe that music is Islamic , want it prohibited . In protest , 14 stations broadcast nature noises : hooves , ocean waves , cats ' roars and growls . Islamic journalist fears this may mark beginning of plot to silence independent media .