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Muslim radio station suspended for broadcasting al-Qaeda recruiter's speeches during Ramadan | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Muslim radio station that broadcast 25 hours of sermons by an al-Qaeda recruiter during Ramadan has been suspended. | A Muslim radio station that broadcast 25 hours of sermons by an al-Qaeda recruiter during Ramadan has been suspended. |
Iman FM played a series of lectures by Anwar Al-Awlaki, an influential cleric called "the Bin Laden of the internet" before he was killed by a US missile drone strike in Yemen in 2011. | Iman FM played a series of lectures by Anwar Al-Awlaki, an influential cleric called "the Bin Laden of the internet" before he was killed by a US missile drone strike in Yemen in 2011. |
The hate preacher, who is said to have inspired terrorist atrocities such as the Charlie Hebdo massacre, could be heard calling for "holy war" on the Sheffield-based radio station on 14 June. | The hate preacher, who is said to have inspired terrorist atrocities such as the Charlie Hebdo massacre, could be heard calling for "holy war" on the Sheffield-based radio station on 14 June. |
Ofcom suspended Iman FM's licence after receiving a complaint and concluding that Al-Awlaki's speeches "amounted to a direct call to action to members of the Muslim community to prepare for and carry out violent action against non-Muslim people". | Ofcom suspended Iman FM's licence after receiving a complaint and concluding that Al-Awlaki's speeches "amounted to a direct call to action to members of the Muslim community to prepare for and carry out violent action against non-Muslim people". |
The watchdog said that the former al-Qaeda leader's talks breached their strict rules that ban hate speech unless it is justified by context. | The watchdog said that the former al-Qaeda leader's talks breached their strict rules that ban hate speech unless it is justified by context. |
They have given Iman FM's chief executive Mohammad Mughal 21 days to provide an explanation for the broadcast before the station is shut down. | They have given Iman FM's chief executive Mohammad Mughal 21 days to provide an explanation for the broadcast before the station is shut down. |
He told the Daily Mail: "This is very, very sad because none of us had any idea this lecture was preaching hatred. We are not just a Muslim radio station – we regularly feature Christian presenters." | He told the Daily Mail: "This is very, very sad because none of us had any idea this lecture was preaching hatred. We are not just a Muslim radio station – we regularly feature Christian presenters." |
Ofcom dismissed Iman FM's claims that they were unaware of Al-Awlaki's background and hadn't checked the material before broadcast as "not credible". | Ofcom dismissed Iman FM's claims that they were unaware of Al-Awlaki's background and hadn't checked the material before broadcast as "not credible". |
Among the extreme content transmitted by the station was a Youtube sermon during which the jihadi preacher said: "Prepare whatever strength you have for holy war in the cause of Allah. This is a form of worship." | Among the extreme content transmitted by the station was a Youtube sermon during which the jihadi preacher said: "Prepare whatever strength you have for holy war in the cause of Allah. This is a form of worship." |
In 2010 former US President Barack Obama included Al-Awlaki on a list of terrorists that the CIA were authorised to kill. | In 2010 former US President Barack Obama included Al-Awlaki on a list of terrorists that the CIA were authorised to kill. |
The al-Qaeda commander, who was born in New Mexico, became the first US citizen to be killed by a drone strike when he was hit in Yemen on 30 September 2011. | The al-Qaeda commander, who was born in New Mexico, became the first US citizen to be killed by a drone strike when he was hit in Yemen on 30 September 2011. |
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