An unjustifiable connection with Islam was made during two news bulletins. This was held to be unfair in terms of the BCCSA news clause 11(1). A Fine of R10 000 was imposed for each of the two contraventions of the Broadcasting Code.
However, the Tribunal rejected the claim that the broadcasts amounted to evidence of Islamophobia on the part of the SABC.
It must be stated at the outset that this Tribunal does not lightly come to the conclusion that a broadcaster appears to be following a certain trend, such as a tendency to Islamophobia. A phobia suggests the existence of a persistent fear that is not justified. It would, however, not be fair to suggest that there is a trend towards Islamophobia simply because two news items included unjustifiable references to Muslims in news on two crimes that had been committed.