Radio Zitouna Accused of Airing Politicized Content

Asma Ghribi - Tunisia Live - Tunisia’s Islamic radio station, Zitouna FM, has been recently accused of infusing its normally purely religious content with social and even political subject matter since the revolution.

Zitouna is going through a transition given that under the previous regime it was owned by Mohamed Sakher El Materi, the son-in-law of Tunisia’s toppled President Ben Ali. Like all Tunisian media outlets under the previous regime, it was prevented from dealing with subjects that the government considered taboo.

“We were restricted from tackling certain issues like the hijab [the Islamic headscarf] and the interest-based Tunisian banking system,” stated Sondos Helali, a show host at Zitouna FM.

Imed Ouerghi, director of programming at the station, acknowledged that there had been a change in editorial line at Zitouna in the last year, but maintained that this shift was an attempt to cope with the events Tunisia has been through.  “It is a revolutionary editorial line. Our country is going through an intense period and we cannot act like we are alienated and we are not part of this metamorphosis. We have to reflect the thoughts and the concerns of Tunisian people,” explained Ouerghi.


However, some critics have taken issue with statements like the following heard on the airwaves of Zitouna: “Using the term ‘Interim Government’ may cause some problems in Tunisian society; it may even lead to violence.” The statement would seem to hint at physical aggression as a consequence for those wishing to hold the interim government to its mandated term.

When asked about this statement, Imed Ouerghi answered, “This statement was made by the guest and not by the show host. We are not responsible for the opinions of our guests.”

Sofiene Ben Hmida, a Tunisian journalist, remains unconvinced. He accused Zitouna FM of being the voice of the government, more specifically the voice of Ennahda – Tunisia’s Islamist party that has the majority of seats in the Constituent Assembly. “Radio Zitouna is related to Ennahda. Ennahda is using Radio Zitouna to gain the sympathy of people,” said Ben Hmida.

Youssef Sedik, a Tunisian renowned philosopher and anthropologist who studies the Quran from an anthropological perspective, agrees with Ben Hmida, stating that Radio Zitouna is very popular among the bulk of Tunisian society and should not be used as an instrument to convey politicized messages.