KIGALI, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) on Tuesday announced the revocation of broadcasting license of a local radio station after airing a sermon that was perceived as discriminatory against women.
Amazing Grace Christian Radio, which is suspended for 30 days for the sermon, failed to comply with the sanctions which included making an apology to the public by correcting the aired program and paying a fine of 2 million Rwandan francs (about 2,331 U.S. dollars), the regulator said in a statement.
A letter was sent to the radio demanding an explanation for non-compliance with the sanctions but the reasons given in their response were found to be unsatisfactory, said the statement.
The regulator said the radio station is ordered to comply with the revocation decision within two working days from Tuesday.
In the sermon aired live on Jan. 29, pastor Nicolas Niyibikora said women are "source of evil."
Niyibikora's sermon, delivered in Kinyarwanda, immediately went viral on social media, igniting anger among women rights activists.
The preaching was condemned by the National Women's Association and Rwanda Women Journalists' Association who filed separate complaints to Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), the media self-regulatory body.
