Tunisia: New religious radio station launched
Tunis, 13 Sept. (AKI) - Tunisia's first 24-hour religious radio station, Radio
Zaytouna for the Noble Koran, went to air Thursday. It is the country's third
privately-owned station and will broadcast around the clock.
Tunisian President Zayn al-Abidin Ben Ali late on Wednesday announced Radio
Zaytouna ('olive tree)'s launch which has been timed to coincide with the start
of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
Around 80 percent of Radio Zaytouna's programming will focus on the Koran. The
remaining 20 percent will focus on the life and teachings of the Prophet
Mohammed, as well as the lives of other prophets and preachers.
The station's licence to broadcast "confirms interest in nurturing the Muslim
faith and those who are involved with it ," said Radio Zaytouna's owner
Muhammad Sakhr al-Matiri.
"The aim is for Tunis to remain a beacon in the Islamo-Arab world and a symbol
of dialogue and fruitful interaction between cultures and civilisations,"
al-Matiri added.
Radio Zaytouna's launch shows "constant attention to Islam and in interest in
its revival and the wish to promote enlightened thought and true Muslim values,
including tolerance, solidarity and moderation," said an unnamed Tunisian
official.
Although freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Tunisian
constitution, the government tightly controls the media. Until late 2003 the
state had a monopoly on radio broadcasting.
The state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates two
national TV channels and several radio networks.
Egyptian and pan-Arab satellite TV stations command large audiences. Two
London-based opposition TV channels can be received via satellite; Al
Mustaqillah TV and Zaytouna TV.
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=1.0.1301988417
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Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi
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