Peace TV

Peace TV
Launched 21 January 2006
Owned by Zakir Naik (founder and president)
Lords Production Ltd,
a subsidiary of Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd[1]
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i(HDTV)
Slogan The solution for Humanity
Country United Arab Emirates
Broadcast area Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North America
Sister channel(s) Peace TV Urdu, Peace TV Bangla, Peace TV Albanian, Peace TV Chinese
Website www.peacetv.tv
Availability - banned in India[2][3] and Bangladesh.[4] Limited broadcast in the United States.[5]
Satellite
Sky (UK) Channel 813
Astra 2F 12640 V 22000 5/6
IPTV
Southern Fibernet Channel 563

Peace TV is a nonprofit satellite television network broadcasting globally 24/7 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Peace TV programs are all in the English language and telecast free-to-air. The founder and president of Peace TV is Zakir Naik, a Islamic preacher from Mumbai, India.

Since 21 January 2006, Peace TV channel has been telecast to more than 200 countries[6] around the world, including in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and North America.[7][8] In 2009, its sister channel (Peace TV Urdu) was launched, which is dedicated especially to the Urdu-speaking viewers around the world and on 22 April 2011, Peace TV Bangla[9] was launched, which is dedicated especially to the Bengali-speaking viewers around the world.

Peace TV network covers live events,[10] lecturing programs for adults and youths, as well as educational programs for children. Its president, Zakir Naik, often calls it an "edutainment channel".[11]

As of July 2016, broadcasting of the channel is banned in India and Bangladesh.[3] In Bangladesh there has been a massive debate to stop airing this channel after the Dhaka Terror Attack.[12][13] The channel has been finally banned by the Government of Bangladesh after a consultation with its internal security agencies on 10 July 2016.[14]

History

Peace TV was launched on Arabsat on satellite BADR-3 in October 2006.

It is also available free of charge from the LiveStation satellite television computer application.[15]

The channel received £1.25 million in 2009 from the Islamic Research Foundation International, a registered charity owned by Zakir Naik.[1]

In 2011 the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom investigated the channel for allegations of broadcasting extremist messages. Its programmes have labelled Jews as enemies of Islam and that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job.[1]

In 2012, Ofcom ruled the channel broke broadcasting rules which states offensive comments should be justified by the context. It was ruled on the following statements which were broadcast on 8 March 2012 on the Dare to Ask programme:[16]

One group of scholars, they say that if a Muslim, if he becomes a non-Muslim [inaudible] he should be put to death. There is another group of scholars who say that if a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim and propagates his new faith against Islam then he should be put to death.
I tend to agree more with the second group of scholars, who say that a Muslim, if he becomes a non-Muslim and propagates his new faith against Islam, that is the time this penalty is applied.

In response, PeaceTV said they were just repeating the teachings of the Quran.[16] The channel has been operating in India since 2006, but as of 2009 it failed to register with India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, making it illegal. Hathway stopped broadcasting the channel. Zakir Naik denies owning the station, and claims it is run by a Dubai-based company.[17] Peace TV was banned in India in 2012, because the government said it was broadcasting malicious anti-Indian content.[18][19] Zakir Naik has denied any links to such claims and hopes that the ban would be lifted.[20]

Awards and nominations

In January 2013, Peace TV was nominated for the Responsible Media of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.[21]

Controversies

A major controversy erupted after the Dhaka Terror Attack in July 2016 when the investigations revealed that a terrorist involved in the brutal killings followed Zakir Naik's page on Facebook and was influenced by Naik's speeches[22] which seemed to be provocative in nature.[23][24] The terrorist had posted sermons of Zakir Naik on social media where Naik has urged "all Muslims to be terrorists" saying "if he is terrorizing a terrorist, he is following Islam".[25]

Following this incident, the channel was banned in Bangladesh.[26] Hasanul Haq Inu, the Information Minister of Bangladesh reasoned that "Peace TV is not consistent with Muslim society, the Quran, Sunnah, Hadith, Bangladesh's Constitution, our culture, customs and rituals"[27]

According to CNN-News18, its investigations found that money raised by Zakir Naik's UK-based NGO - Islamic Research Foundation International - for charity had been diverted to this controversial channel.[28]

Staff and presenters

Logos

References

  1. 1 2 3 Harper, Tom (11 February 2011). "Banned hate preacher still broadcasting after 'Jews are enemy of Islam' claim". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013.
  2. ↑ The First Post. "Centre asks States to block unauthorised TV channels like Zakir Naik's Peace TV". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 The Hindu. "Zakir Naik's UK-registered Foundation under scanner". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  4. ↑ The Times of India. "Bangladesh bans televangelist Zakir Naik's Peace TV". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Banned in India, Peace TV Net Buys Berth on TWC in N.Y.". Multichannel News. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "About Peace TV". Peacetv.in. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
  7. ↑ Aataai Gazi Mahbub (10 May 2007). "Does 'Peace TV' Encourage Interfaith Amity?". OhmyNews. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  8. ↑ Syed Neaz Ahmad (23 February 2007). "Peace TV Reaching 400 Million Viewers – Dr. Zakir Naik". Saudi Gazette. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007.
  9. ↑ "Welcome to Peace TV Bangla". Peacetvbangla.com. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "An Inter - Religious dialogue for Spiritual Enlightenment". The True Call. 13 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "British authorities consider banning Peace TV". The Express Tribune. Pakistan. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011.
  12. ↑ The Washington Post (6 July 2016). "This Islamic preacher might have influenced one of the Dhaka terrorists. Now Indians want him banned.". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  13. ↑ Dhaka Tribune (6 July 2016). "India may consider action against Zakir Naik, if Bangladesh requests". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  14. ↑ The Times of India. "Bangladesh bans televangelist Zakir Naik's Peace TV". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Schedules". Peacetv.tv. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  16. 1 2 Barrett, David (9 February 2013). "Preachers of hate on British TV: what they said that broke the broadcasting rules". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Wajihuddin, Mohammed (5 April 2009). "Popular religious channel illegal: I&B ministry". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  18. ↑ Sharma, Pratul (5 December 2012). "Government puts 24 foreign 'hate channels' on notice for showing anti-India TV shows after intelligence alert". The Daily Mail. India. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012.
  19. ↑ Sharma, Pratul (6 December 2012). "MHA glare on hate channels: Govt puts on notice 24 foreign TV channels showing anti-India content after intel alert". India Today. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012.
  20. ↑ Hassan, Rashid (6 July 2014). "Ban on Peace TV will be lifted soon: Zakir Naik". Arab News. Arab News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Winners honoured at British Muslim Awards". Asian Image. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  22. ↑ DNA (7 July 2016). "Peace TV of Mumbai preacher Zakir Naik who inspired Dhaka killer funded in Britain". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  23. ↑ NDTV. "Bangladesh Investigating Zakir Naik's Islamist Links: Minister". Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  24. ↑ Mid Day (7 July 2016). "Bangladesh asks India to examine Zakir Naik's speeches". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  25. ↑ The Washington Post. "Islamic TV preacher denies link to Bangladesh attack, accuses media of unfair trial". Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  26. ↑ Voice of America (13 July 2016). "After Terror Attack, Bangladesh Bans Peace TV". Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  27. ↑ BBC News (11 July 2016). "Bangladesh to ban Islamic TV channel, Peace TV". Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  28. ↑ Zee News. "Money collected for charity was routed to Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's Peace TV: Report". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  29. ↑ "Our Speakers". Peacetv.in. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
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