The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised concerns over what it describes as an attempt by international cable television network GOTV to impose Christian programming on its Muslim viewers.
In a statement released on Friday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, criticized GOTV for broadcasting the Christian televangelism programme Faith on its primary channel. Akintola labeled the move as “offensive, discriminatory, and unfair” to Nigerian Muslims.
MURIC’s Key Concerns
The issue stems from GOTV’s decision to feature Faith—a programme dedicated to Christian teachings—on the default channel displayed when subscribers turn on their televisions. Previously, this channel was used to advertise other programmes, giving viewers a neutral starting point.
MURIC argues that this alteration forces viewers, regardless of their beliefs, to encounter Christian content involuntarily. They likened this practice to “religious apartheid,” stating that it infringes on Muslims’ rights to freedom of choice and violates their religious sensitivities.
A Call for Immediate Action
The organization has demanded that GOTV move the Faith programme to a less prominent channel and revert the default channel to its original advertisement format. MURIC issued a one-week ultimatum, ending December 9, 2024, for GOTV to comply. Failure to act may prompt peaceful protests, including a nationwide campaign urging Muslims to unsubscribe from the service.
Advocating for Peaceful Dialogue
Despite their strong stance, MURIC emphasized the need for calm and non-violence among Nigerian Muslims. “We appeal to all Muslims to remain patient and law-abiding. There is no room for provocation or lawlessness. The law protects our rights, and we will not support a service provider that disregards our faith,” the statement read.
The group also urged GOTV to restore its previous setting, which allowed customers to resume watching the last channel they accessed before turning off their televisions.
MURIC concluded by highlighting the tension already present in Nigeria, stressing that GOTV’s actions have the potential to exacerbate existing challenges.
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