Moroccan radio stations accused of breaking the law
2008-10-02
Moroccan radio stations must suspend broadcasting and pay fines for airing "sexually explicit" content and "clandestine advertising".
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat -- 02/10/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Two Moroccan radio stations have been fined after HACA ruled that they had been disseminating "sexually explicit" material and "clandestine advertising". |
Two Moroccan radio stations will be taken off the air for several hours each day and also face fines as a penalty for breaking the code of broadcast ethics.
The High Authority for Audiovisual Communications (HACA) ruled that Hit Radio broadcast "sexually explicit" and "pornographic"content on its "Libre Antenne" show (Open Antenna).
As a punishment, the station must suspend broadcasting on both terrestrial airwaves and the Internet between 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. for 15 days.
The other radio station, Chada FM, was ordered to pay 35,000-dirhams fine and suspend broadcasting between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. for seven days. HACA accused the station of "clandestine advertising output" during one of its programs.
The "advertising" benefited a property development company, the HACA decided.
Statutes forbid journalists from participating in any commercial advertising and should not be seen as supporting and serving the exclusive interests of groups with political, ethnic, economic, financial or ideological interests. Therefore, HACA ruled Chada FM was in violation of the law.
Although radio stations are free to broadcast and choose their content, this "freedom must be exercised with respect for human dignity, religious values, public order and morality," HACA says. Under broadcast law, the operator is required "to ensure under all circumstances that they are able to control the output, particularly during interactive broadcasts aimed at a young audience".
HACA has a program-monitoring department with 30 employees. They are equipped with enough technology to keep an eye on everything broadcast on Moroccan TV and radio stations. Their task is to report on violations of statutes or failure to comply with legislation or professional ethical standards.
Hit Radio chairman Younes Benmehdi said that the punishment is severe and will have negative repercussions on the station.
"We will lose a third of our income," he said. "That is 400,000 dirhams for the month of October. The anchors could also ask to be paid. Our plan to set up a television channel could also be seriously affected."
The Libre Antenne program was fined 100,000 dirhams for a similar charge last year. In August, the station decided to take the show off the air.
The station expects to lose 200,000 dirhams because of the suspension of broadcasting.
Mohamed Brahmi, a professor in communication science said that it is still early to evaluate the performance of the new private radio stations, but they do deserve some credit for reconciling the listener with the radio. "They should have resorted to warnings and fines without suspending broadcasting, because that can cause a deadly blow to stations."
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mr olympia Posted 2008-10-02
Where is our freedom of expression? HACA is in perfect cadence with the streets of Morocco. Everybody is talking about sex, so, with the exception of the PJD and HACA, this is no longer taboo. Free the airwaves! Let young people express their thoughts! This is how we are going to fight obscurantism and extremism! Foolish censorship is certainly not going to remedy this country of ignorance!
saidani miloudi Posted 2008-10-03
IT'S HIGH TIME THAT H A C A SHOULD TAKE MEASURES AGAINST RADIO STATIONS AND BE ALERT TO PROTECT PUBLIC MONEY NOT TO BE INVESTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF DESTRUCTIVE RADIO SETS. 2M HAS TO WAIT FOR HER TURN. BRAVO HACA HAC HAC,THE DEFENDER OF THE TRUTH ( LHAC ).
M. Jones Posted 2008-10-04
Bravo! I am an Anglophone resident of Morocco (10+ years) and have been waiting for some kind of censure of this kind. Although I uphold the 'freedom of expression', there has to be limits especially when children are involved. Over the past years I have heard both private & public-sponsored radio stations, unwittingly (or intentionally) playing rap music that contained explicit sexual references and obscene language. Even in my own country of origin there are censures for such 'music'. I was shocked but thought it was an exception since I assumed the radio station employees did not speak English. But I heard the same, and more music, with similar obscene language again and again. I was outraged one day when the music came on while my children were in the car with me. Unfortunately, to this day, I do not know how to complain to the proper authorities. Thankfully someone else is listening and speaks English.
hamid Posted 2008-10-05
Bravo, it is also because they have exaggerated. There is no more shame. Thank you!
gol Posted 2008-10-09
HACA should make a concrete investment in the fight against paedophilia in Morocco—this is a sad reality—instead of punishing something abstract by penalising a radio station for broadcasting a bunch of hot air. And, that goes even if it did have to do with sex!
2passage Posted 2008-10-11
Our radio and television should promote the values and good behaviour of our society, not hide its imperfections, which were born most certainly to a blind globalisation. They should highlight our originality and civilisation and help people combat mediocrity and baseness. Disseminating something publicly is as good as endorsing it and making it acceptable within our ways and traditions.
rabi33.com Posted 2008-10-26
Bravo, I am an English native speaker and live in Morocco (for over ten years). I was expecting such criticism. Even though adhere to freedom of expression, there should be some limits, especially when kids are concerned. During recent years, I listened to private and public radio stations in an unintentional way (or deliberate) broadcasting rap songs with obvious sexual language and indecent words. Even in my native country, there is a censorship over such music. I was shocked and thought that it was an exception as I assumed that employees in radio stations don’t speak English. But I heard the same music and other indecent songs many times again. I was very angry when the song was aired and my kids were with me in the car. To this day, I still don't know how to present a complaint to competent authorities. Thank God, there was someone else who heard it and he speaks English.
rime Posted 2008-11-12
for me, magharreba's it' s a boring channel in morocco ,it dosen't made any change or development always it rollin same programe again and again without any develope; therfore ,causes anger and boring for every one has listen or watched it
Anonymous Posted 2008-11-12
not good programme
samo Posted 2008-11-20
This requires good governance.
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