Religion News

Muslim clerics take Macra to task

Muslims have taken to task the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) for imposing a fine on Radio Islam for breach of licence conditions.

Macra released a media statement on April 6 2013 announcing that the regulator had fined the radio K260 000 (about $620) for denigrating other religions in a programme.

The programme, broadcast in January 2013, said Jesus Christ was not the son of God and that those who worship him are bound for hell.

Macra said the statements breached the Communications Act of 1998.

Sheik Dinala Chabulika, national coordinator of the Islamic Information Bureau, said a delegation of Muslim clerics went to Macra offices in Blantyre to ask the regulator some tough questions.

“Yes, we went and asked them to withdraw the fine. Our argument was simple: how can the radio pay a fine for airing what is truly a Muslim belief? We also pointed out that Mr George Thindwa [executive director of Association of Secular Humanists] went on the national TV and said there is no God which is an insult to Muslims and Christians, but MBC was never fined,” argued Chabulika.

He also said some Christian radios play songs and sermons such as “mayina enawa ndi afeki,” [some of these names are fake] but they have not been fined.

Chabulika said Macra apologised and withdrew the fine but Nation on Sunday could not verify his claims as Macra spokesperson, Clara Mulonya, was not available for comment.

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