Rabat – Morocco’s High Authority for Audiovisual Communication, HACA, has ordered Chada FM to suspend its religious program “Din wa Dounia” for one month, starting September 19. The decision concerns comments made during an episode broadcast on September 18 featuring Abderrahman Skach, who was introduced as a professor, preacher, and sheikh.
According to HACA’s decision, Skach discussed the criteria voters should consider when choosing candidates. He said voters should choose people who fear God, serve the country and citizens, respect religion, and are honest and trustworthy.
He also warned against voting for people he described as corrupt, including those who steal, deceive, or exploit public positions. During the discussion, he linked the act of voting to religious responsibility, saying that a voter would be held accountable for the person receiving their vote and describing the vote as a form of testimony that could count for or against the voter.
HACA said the comments raised concerns because of the guest’s presentation and religious status. The authority said the statements went beyond the required duty of restraint associated with the religious nature of the speaker and could influence voters’ choices by linking electoral decisions to religious practice and beliefs.
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The regulator also pointed to the role of the program’s presenter. It said the presenter did not intervene sufficiently to control the broadcast or distance the program from the statements made by the guest. HACA therefore found that Chada Radio failed to meet certain legal and regulatory requirements related to program integrity, ethical obligations and responsibility for broadcast content.
The decision comes during the electoral period for Morocco’s September 23 legislative elections. HACA had previously adopted specific rules governing audiovisual coverage during the electoral period, including requirements concerning political pluralism, equal access, editorial impartiality and neutrality. The electoral period runs from August 15 through September 22.
HACA also took the program’s previous record into account. According to reports on the decision, the regulator has previously taken several measures concerning “Din wa Dounia,” including warnings and sanctions linked to content broadcast on the program.
The latest decision was adopted by HACA’s Superior Council for Audiovisual Communication on September 18. It applies to the program broadcast by Chada FM, which is operated by Chada Radio.
