Tunis, 13 Sept. (AKI) - Tunisia's first 24-hour religious radio station, Radio Zaytouna for the Noble Koran, went to air Thursday. It is the country's third privately-owned station and will broadcast around the clock.
Tunisian President Zayn al-Abidin Ben Ali late on Wednesday announced Radio Zaytouna ('olive tree)'s launch which has been timed to coincide with the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
Around 80 percent of Radio Zaytouna's programming will focus on the Koran. The remaining 20 percent will focus on the life and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, as well as the lives of other prophets and preachers.
The station's licence to broadcast "confirms interest in nurturing the Muslim faith and those who are involved with it ," said Radio Zaytouna's owner Muhammad Sakhr al-Matiri.
"The aim is for Tunis to remain a beacon in the Islamo-Arab world and a symbol of dialogue and fruitful interaction between cultures and civilisations," al-Matiri added.
Radio Zaytouna's launch shows "constant attention to Islam and in interest in its revival and the wish to promote enlightened thought and true Muslim values, including tolerance, solidarity and moderation," said an unnamed Tunisian official.
Although freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Tunisian constitution, the government tightly controls the media. Until late 2003 the state had a monopoly on radio broadcasting.
The state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates two national TV channels and several radio networks.
Egyptian and pan-Arab satellite TV stations command large audiences. Two London-based opposition TV channels can be received via satellite; Al Mustaqillah TV and Zaytouna TV.
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=1.0.1301988417
(Source: Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)