20 December 2018

Derby radio station fined £10,000 for broadcasting hate speech

A Derby-based radio station has been fined £10,000 for broadcasting hate speech.

Radio Ikhlas, which operates from premises in Lower Dale Road, Normanton, was found to have published “hatred” towards the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

Following an Ofcom investigation, which concluded in March, the regulator has this week announced its decision to fine the station.

The broadcast took place on September 7, 2017.

The Ahmadis, a Muslim movement, follows the teachings of the Qur’an but it is considered heretical by orthodox Islam since they do not believe that the Prophet Mohammed was the final prophet sent to guide mankind.

.... In the middle of the broadcast, there was a 21-minute segment, which commenced with the presenter referring to the fact that the programme was being broadcast on the anniversary of September 7 1974 - the day on which the Pakistani National Assembly voted on a bill and constitutional amendment declaring Ahmadi people to be non-Muslim.

The presenter made comments such as referring to Ahmadi people as “dangerous”; “liars”; “enemies of Islam, enemies of Pakistan, and enemies of our religion”. [Derbyshire Live] Read more