Banning Religious Satellite Channels: Chaos And Propagandize Hatred
25 October 2010By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid
Complaints have previously been lodged against certain
satellite television channels, i.e. music channels, on
the pretext that they fill young people's minds with
trivial matters, waste their time, and divert their
attention away [from more important issues]. However,
complaints lodged today concern channels that fill
young people's minds with something far more toxic and
deadly, pushing them in the direction of Jihad, and
suicide missions. Today, music and sports are no
longer the focus of attention; rather it is religious
satellite channels, which have spread like wildfire in
the Arab region.
What has happened? How has space suddenly opened up
for these religious figures? Platforms and religious
forums are no longer sufficient for them; they now
seek to access thousands and even millions of viewers
at home. Furthermore, two new issues have emerged in
the region: Firstly, there is now competition between
satellite stations, seeking to lease their frequencies
out for cheap prices, in order to fund the launch of
more satellite stations. Secondly, Fatwas have been
issued to permit Zakat, and other charitable donations
– originally intended to be spent on the poor and
those in need, such as widowers and orphans – as a
means of funding Islamic media projects.
Of course, this is an exploitation of religion,
because it is used to raise money for political and
personal goals. The term "Islamic media" has political
connotations, and the money raised by these satellite
stations is used to fund both licensed and illegal
political groups. Such Fatwas have provided a treasure
chest for religious figures who are eager to appear in
the media and build their own propaganda corporations,
in order to broadcast their ideas, and not necessarily
with the permission of the charitable donors.
Therefore, in reality, we are facing two closely
correlated issues. Firstly, those who lease out
satellite television channels do not care about the
leaseholder's activity; whether he intends to
advertise deadly medical scams, or advocate religious
sectarianism, which would trigger full-scale conflicts
in our region. The owners of satellite stations are
only concerned with getting half a million dollars,
for a one-year lease on each channel. Secondly, people
are raising money from charitable donations and Zakat,
and spending it on renting television frequency space,
and constructing studios. Instead of using the funds
to help orphans and the poor, they spend money on the
make-up and wages of television presenters and guests.
Their aim is to incite sectarian strife, or broadcast
Jihadist appeals, then to raise more money through
telephone donations, under the pretext of collecting
for needy Muslims.
These people do not only brainwash youngsters, and
send them to fight in wars, or to drive a car packed
with explosives, but they have moved on to a new
stage. They seek to collect as much money as they can,
even if it was intended for charity or Zakat,
meanwhile governments are doing very little to prevent
this. This ‘very little' does include the Egyptian
government's decision to ban two Salafi channels from
broadcasting, which were devoted to Shiite
provocation. Yet there are dozens of other channels
run by Shiite and Sunni extremists, who provoke and
outrage each other, and there are further channels
with the sole intention of increasing their viewers'
grief and depression.
These religious propaganda channels are too dangerous
to be left unrestricted, for they abuse their
satellite space, and the principle of charitable
donations. But how can they be controlled in such
complex circumstances? As members of the media, we are
concerned about them, but we do not dare call for them
to be banned. This is because we are conscious that a
potential ban would be exploited; to the extent that
other stations would be suspended, simply because they
do not suit the political, sporting, or personal
opinions of those in charge.
At the same time, how can we let extremist groups
exploit such satellite chaos, and propagandize hatred,
killing, and sectarian strife, whether against the
Sunnis, the Shiites or Christians?
Responsibility primarily lies with the owners of these
satellite stations, rather than the owners of the
programmes or the government employees in the
Ministries of Information.
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments