The young Emirati woman at the centre of a major internet protest against former Virgin Radio DJ Revin John says the presenter deserved to lose his job.
South Africa-born John was fired from his Dubai breakfast radio show on Tuesday, after he upset listeners the previous day by reading an article which was offensive for religious reasons.
Mariam Zarouni, a 20-year-old chemical engineering student at the American University of Sharjah, told Arabian Business in an interview on Thursday that John’s actions were beyond belief.
“For us in Islam, God is the biggest thing we have and for him to make fun of him in that way, it was offensive and rude. It’s belittling.
“He deserves to lose his job because he did not apologise straightaway, he only apologised after everything, the next day.”
Zarouni said she was so upset by the broadcast she immediately established Facebook group ‘Against Virgin Radio God Call’.
By Thursday afternoon the group had almost 650 members, and Zarouni expected it to continue to grow.
Zarouni had also phoned to complain directly to the radio station on Monday.
“I eventually spoke to the presenter after Revin John, who apologised to me. But it’s not enough; it should have been to all the listeners. I think there should be more supervision of English radio stations in the future, so this does not happen again.”
Mahmoud Al-Rasheed, general manager of Arab Radio Network, had confirmed on Wednesday to Arabian Business that the presenter had been asked to leave for “inappropriate on-air conduct”.
“Arabian Radio Network has continuously maintained that it is a company that respects the cultures and traditions of all religions,” he said in a statement.
Follow us on
