Islamic TV channel fined by Ofcom in cash for prayers ruling
Media regulator fines Noor TV £75,000 for encouraging audience members
to donate money in return for prayers
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John Plunkett
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 September 2011 13.10 EDT
Article history
The London headquarters of media regulator Ofcom, which fined Noor TV
for encouraging viewers to donate money in exchange for prayers.
Photograph: Graeme Robertson
An Islamic TV channel that encouraged viewers to donate money in
return for prayers has been fined £75,000 by Ofcom.
The media regulator said "susceptible members of the audience may have
been persuaded to donate money to Noor TV when they would not
otherwise have done so".
Noor TV, which is owned by Al Ehya Digital Television, broadcasts on
the Sky satellite service. Ofcom took action after the channel's
Saturday Night Special programme which was broadcast on 13 November
last year. It included the offer of a "special gift" for a donation of
£1,000 or the offer of a prayer that would improve the health, wealth
and good fortune of the donor and their family.
Ofcom said it was "extremely concerned that although viewers were told
that their donations were for the purpose of funding Noor TV's
programming, the funds donated ... were not in fact received by Noor
TV and therefore were not used for their stated purpose".
The regulator added: "Viewers should not be invited to make a donation
in return for anything other than to make programmes or the provision
of the service.
"Further, appeals for funds should not improperly exploit the
susceptibilities of the audience. Ofcom considered that vulnerable
people, such as those experiencing financial or emotional
difficulties, may be unduly encouraged to give donations.
"In particular, Ofcom considered it unacceptable for a licensee to
persuade viewers to donate money on the basis of inducements such as
offering a prayer for or on behalf of the donor; the promise of better
health; or that a religious figure will create further wealth for
donors or take particular care of donors."
The £75,000 penalty is payable to the government.
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