What do global music legend Bob Dylan and recently sentenced Bahraini woman and activist Fadhila Mubarak have in common? More than you might think.

In the 60s, Bob Dylan’s anti-Vietnam War songs and civil rights anthems earned him the rep as the scruffy and reluctant poster boy of counter-culture and 'protest music'.

Fadhila Mubarak was recently convicted in her involvement in last year’s pro-reform protests in Bahrain, but also on the spurious change of listening to "revolutionary" music.

They’ve both used songs and music to subvert the status quo. It’s a universal form of freedom of expression that cuts across barriers.

But why do dictators get so worked up by the music people listen to? Well, my take on it is that music is a way to express discontent, frustration and ideas when words alone won’t cut it.

Amnesty's been connecting with musicians for decades to reach out and unite audiences. At U2’s world tour last year, the band helped contribute 31,000 signatures to protect women in Nairobi's slums in Kenya.

Since the 70s, we’ve joined with Monty Python, Pete Townsend, Pater Gabriel, Kate Bush and more to spur support for our campaigns.

Ordinary people all around the world use music to peacefully challenge the status quo.

Burma’s hip-hop star Zayar Thaw mightn’t have the global name of Jay Z, but when he 'rapped for rights' with his band ACID, Zayer’s lyrics about the need for political and economic reform and spurred his supporters into action. Check out this awesome video of a rap he wrote for Aung San Suu Kyi’s 66th birthday.

His calls for democracy landed him a six year sentence in a Burmese prison cell, but he was released early in 2011 and is now running as a by-election candidate for the country’s National League of Democracy party.

Morroccan rapper Mouad Belrhouat (better known as The Indignant) was arrested for 'assault' in September 2011. But according to his supporters the charges are a sham and he was targeted for criticising the Morroccan monarchy.

And Zimbabwean activist Viomak, now a UK-based refugee, uses music as a campaign tool to educate Zimbabweans on human rights via online ‘protest radio’.

Small acts of resistance like those of Fedhila Mubarak, Zayar Thaw and, Mouad Belrhouatand Viomak have often been met with disproportionate crackdowns in their countries. But so long as music brings people together, unity, when it’s against the regime, is a dictator’s number one enemy.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, today we’re releasing a new album of Bob Dylan songs, as performed by 80 of today’s leading musicians! You can preview it for free on our Facebook page, or buy your own copy online.