The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has issued a warning to the international cable television network, GOTV, urging it to stop airing the Christian televangelism programme Faith on its main channel.
This was contained in a statement signed by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday, who described the decision as “offensive, nauseating, and denigrating” to Nigerian Muslims.
According to a press statement, the Faith programme, which focuses on Christian televangelism, now occupies the top channel on GOTV, a slot that was previously used for advertisements of other programmes.
MURIC argues that this change forces viewers to watch Christian content by default when they turn on their televisions, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The organisation claims this action imposes Christian religious content on the Muslim population, equating it to “religious apartheid.”
MURIC argued that GOTV’s choice to feature Faith on such a prominent channel infringes on the rights of Muslim viewers, violating their freedom of choice and their right to select television programming without being confronted with unwanted religious content.
The group maintains that this practice is divisive and unjust to Muslims in the country.
In light of this situation, MURIC has demanded that GOTV promptly relocate the Faith programme to a different channel and restore the first channel to its original function.
They also warned that if their request is not fulfilled within a week (by December 9, 2024), they may consider peaceful actions, including urging Muslims to unsubscribe from the service.
“Meanwhile, MURIC appeals to Nigerian Muslims to continue to exercise patience and to remain peaceful and calm. We must not give in to provocation, lawlessness and violence.
“The law is on our side and we have the right to reject a service provider that has no respect for our faith or for its Muslim customers.
“GOTV will also do better by returning to its original practice whereby the last station watched by consumers opens immediately they switch on their television sets.
“Nigerians are going through enough stress and GOTV has no right to escalate tension in the nation’s anatomy,” the statement concluded.
