Schoof was speaking on Wednesday in a press conference following Tuesday RURA’s decision to revoke Amazing Grace Radio’s broadcasting license.
The decision to revoke the license came two months after RURA suspended the radio in a period of a month over airing a sermon in which a preacher allegedly defamed women.
The radio had been suspended over the sermon by preacher Nicholas Niyibikora which referred to women as prostitutes and evil among other shameful words.
The radio was also instructed to air a statement of public apology and pay administrative fine of Rwf2 million on RURA account.
Prior to RURA’s sanctions, RMC, media self-regulatory body had requested RURA to shut the frequencies of the radio.
{{RURA ordered me to plead guilty}}
Schoof neither to apologised nor to paid the fines, prompting RURA to revoke the radio broadcasting license.
In a press conference, Schoof said that RURA ordered him to plead guilty against his conscience.
“I refused to plead guilty, so they revoked our broadcasting license. You can’t order people to plead guilty! The Rwandan constitution guarantees that we have the right of opinion and conscience,” he said.
He said that he is not Pastor Nicholas who must apologise for himself.
“Pastor Nicholas has not been found guilty yet. There has been no testimony, no hearing and no court case for his message. His message has never been discussed, so RURA wants me to apologisse for someone who is still presumed to be innocent?,” he questioned.
“If I apologise, then I admit that I am guilty of wrongdoing. I am not guilty of doing anything wrong. Why apologise? To apologise is to plead guilty,” he added.
{{The radio submitted case file to court}}
He said they filed the case to court because both RURA and RMC have not respected the laws of Rwanda.
“I tell you, both RMC and RURA have not respected the laws of Rwanda. So, if we get an honest judge we will win, if he disrespects the law of Rwanda, then we lose,” he said.
In a revoking statement issued yesterday, RURA said that the conduct of the Amazing Grace Radio violated article 21(4A and 4B) of Regulation No 004/R/MR-MCA/RURA/2017 of 30 June 2017 governing Broadcasting services in Rwanda, in regard to upholding public morality and Rwandan culture and values in general.
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