Media council responsible for religious content on media shows

CAIRO – 15 November 2017: Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) Makram Mohammed Ahmed said that the SCMR is responsible for the values, ethics, and professionality of the content broadcasting on media shows, including religious iftaa.

In a press conference at the SCMR headquarters, Ahmad clarified that the SCMR will regulate religious discourse until legislation is issued to organize means of religious advisory in Egypt.

The SCMR chairman added that the SCMR will demand all media outlets stick to a list of 50 scholars authorized by Al-Azhar and Dar al-Iftaa to give religious advisories in media outlets.

He warned against any violation of the decision, stressing that religious advisories and fatwa should be issued by authentic preachers.

“According to decision’s regulations, freedom of expression in religious issues is not included in the religious advisory activity, iftaa,” Ahmed stressed.

“Yet it will be conditioned with awareness and commitment to moderation and away from abuse of other religions or extremism,” he stated.

The SCMR clarified that punishments to be imposed on violators will be part of the SCMR regulations, which include banning the violator from media outlets.

For his part, a source from Al-Azhar clarified that the SCMR list of 50 scholars are the only ones who have the right to give fatwas and conduct religious discourse on media shows.

The source noted that those scholars are the only ones accredited by Al-Azhar to give fatwas.