• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Analysis: UK's First Permanent Islamic Radio Station Launches

Posted on: Tuesday, 29 November 2005, 09:00 CST

Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 29 November

The first permanent Islamic radio station to operate in the UK was launched as a digital broadcaster on 26 November in Bradford, an industrial city in the north of England with a high population of Asian origin.

Islam Radio, a digital-only (DAB) service, will broadcast around the clock, carrying discussion programmes, women's and children's programmes and Islamic music. As well as broadcasting the call to prayer five times a day, it will feature live link-ups to mosques in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

The website of the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom describes the station as "a family orientated Islamic service".

Islam Radio will become available around the UK during the next few months. The station also plans to set up studios in London and Birmingham.

Building bridges

The Bradford Telegraph and Argus newspaper described Islam Radio as "the brainchild of Mohammed Sajid, who set up the station in response to growing calls from his local community for a dedicated Islamic radio station".

The Iranian news agency IRNA described him as an author and Ph.D. student at Bradford University's Centre for European Studies.

"The community have been wanting a radio station for more than 10 years," Mr Sajid told the newspaper, adding: "There was a real need and want for this service. We want the channel to be a wholesome family one and really hope that it will help to build bridges between Bradford's different faith communities."

Although his station is targeted primarily at Muslims in Bradford, Mr Sajid said he hoped to involve all members of the community, through programmes addressing local issues such as health education and politics.

Up to now, the only Islamic radio stations to operate in the UK broadcast on Restricted Service Licences, mostly during the the holy month of Ramadan.

A number of radio stations specifically for sections of Britain's Asian population have been operating for many years. Islam Radio is, however, the first to specifically target Muslims.

Source: BBC Monitoring Media

More News in this Category