London, July 29: An Islamic community radio station in the UK has lost its licence for broadcasting 25 hours of lectures by Al Qaeda recruiter Alman al-Awlaki. Sheffield-based Iman FM was found in breach of broadcast norms by the UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) for airing the lectures titled ‘The Life of Mohammed’ by the America-born radical cleric during the holy month of Ramazan between May 26 and June 16.
The station claimed that it was unaware of the background of the preacher, who was killed by a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011. “Ofcom has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to revoke the licensee’s Broadcasting Act licence, and that the licensee is unfit to hold a broadcast licence. The service has been off-air since July 4 and will not be reinstated,” said an Ofcom spokesperson.
The media regulator’s investigation found that Al Awlaki’s lectures included “a direct call to action to members of the Muslim community to prepare for and carry out violent action against non-Muslim people” and “statements clearly condoning and encouraging acts of crime, terrorism or violent behaviour”. The watchdog said the content, including calls for “virtuous jihad” and anti-Semitic statements, was in “serious breach” of the broadcasting code amounting to hate speech, justifying terrorism, inciting violence and encouraging crime.
The station, run by Iman Media UK which has been on air since October 2014, was suspended following complaints July 4 and has had its licence revoked this week after representations from the owners failed to save keep it on air.
PTI