The independent Media Commission (IMC) and Women in the Media (WIMSAL) have denounced the actions of certain media houses in the alleged rape allegations between the now-sacked Deputy Minister of Education, Mahmoud Tarawallie and a university student.
In two separate press releases issued on Tuesday the institutions said the privacy of the complainant had been invaded.
“The Board of the IMC unreservedly condemns the Monologue programme broadcast on Star Radio on Saturday 14th and repeated on Sunday 15th September on the alleged rape incident” the IMC release states, calling it a “disregard for basic ethical values in society”.
It also condemns the Standard Times publication of Monday 16th September calling it “a gross violation” of Section 24 of the Media Code of Practice which states that the media “must not identify victims of sexual assault or publish material likely to contribute to such identification, unless there is adequate justification, and by law, they are free to do so”. The statement says the action of the newspaper “is totally unacceptable” adding that it has “instituted measures to appropriately address this breach of the Media Code of Practice.”
WIMSAL on the other hand expressed “grave concern over the unethical coverage by some sections of the local media” of the alleged rape case. The statement says the organisation is “concerned that deliberately disclosing the identity of an alleged rape victim, as some media houses have done in this case, is most unacceptable” and urges the IMC to take action against the defaulters.
WIMSAL thanks the police for their “professional handling” of the matter urges the judiciary “to take all necessary action to protect the identity of the alleged victim”.
(C) Politico 19/08/13
