Addis ababa: The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at curbing misinformation and hate speech propagated by various religious media outlets in the country. The MoU was formalized by EMA Director-General Haymanot Zeleke and IRCE Secretary-General Kesis Tagai Tadele.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, during the signing ceremony, EMA Director-General Haymanot Zeleke highlighted that there are currently 51 religious-based media institutions operating in Ethiopia. She emphasized the importance of these institutions promoting unity and collaboration among followers of different religions. Zeleke pointed out that while most religious media outlets adhere to these principles, a few have been responsible for spreading hate speech and misinformation. The new agreement is expected to play a crucial role in addressing these issues.
IRCE Secretary-General Kesis Tagai Tadele reiterated the need for religious media content to comply with the Constitution and contribute to peace and unity among the populace. He expressed confidence that the MoU would be instrumental in preventing the spread of hate speech and false information by certain religious media entities.
Additionally, the agreement includes provisions for joint capacity building and awareness creation initiatives by both institutions to tackle the challenges posed by misinformation and hate speech.