Ofcom revokes licence of Iman FM

Ofcom has revoked the community radio licence of Iman FM held by Iman Media UK Limited, following an investigation.

The company held a community radio licence, broadcasting Iman FM radio over a five-kilometre radius in the Sheffield area.

On 4th July, Ofcom exercised its powers under section 111B of the Broadcasting Act 1990 to suspend Iman FM’s licence. This followed extremely serious breaches of the Broadcasting Code, after it aired material likely to incite or encourage the commission of crime or to lead to disorder. BizAsiaLive.com earlier reported that the station had broadcast lectures by radical American Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, whose sermons previously are thought to have inspired terrorist attacks including the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris in 2015

Following both written and oral representations from Iman Media UK Limited, Ofcom has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to revoke the licensee’s Broadcasting Act licence, and that the licensee is unfit to hold a broadcast licence.

The service has been off-air since 4th July and will not be reinstated.