‘Trash radio’ blamed for race incitement

IN the wake of recent carnage at a Quebec City mosque, the Canadian province’s popular conservative talk radio hosts have come under fire for allegedly spreading intolerance and hate.

Critics say the talk shows fuel a divisive climate that allows extreme ideologies to take root and flourish – a claim that has taken on heightened relevance after a gunman with far-right sympathies opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing six and wounding eight more.

While not pointing a finger at any person or organisation, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard emphasised on Tuesday that “words do matter”.

Residents of Quebec City tend to vote more conservatively than the rest of the province. Some say that radio stations like local FM93 and Radio X – which are respectively the region’s second and third-most listened to in the region, with a combined 30% market share – simply reflect their audience’s views.

But others say the shows stoke dangerous beliefs. “These are right-wing talk radio stations with little substance but a lot of opinions,” said Stephane LemanLanglois, a criminologist at Laval University, where the alleged shooter studied.

These “trash radio” stations, as they have become known locally, “contribute to legitimise increasingly adversarial discourse against minorities in general and Muslims in particular”, he said.

There is no indication that the suspect arrested in connection to the attack at the Quebec City mosque on Sunday listened to these radio stations. His online activities, however, suggest he supports political leaders including Republican US President Donald Trump and French farright politician Marine Le Pen.

Muslims in the Canadian province lay the blame for rising Islamophobia squarely at the foot of right-wing talk radio.

Some stations “have made it their mission to increase distrust and hate of Muslims”, said Mohamed Yangui, head of the Islamic cultural centre and mosque that was attacked.

“Their comments are often over the top and blundering,” said Leman-Langlois, recalling a one-hour episode last year in which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was said to be an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood determined to Islamise Canada.

“There is really an examination of conscience to do on the part of these radio stations.”

His words echo media research group Project J, which has called on the stations to take a hard look at themselves and reflect on how they cover communities – “Muslims in particular.”

Calls have also multiplied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications agency, which regulates the industry, to take a hard line.

The CRTC has at times warned radio stations, and some hosts have been sued for defamation, but the stations themselves keep broadcasting.

Since the mosque shooting, these radio stations have said they deplore violence. — AFP