A Christian radio station in Rwanda was officially shut down on Tuesday for airing a sermon that referred to women as "a source of evil."
According to Nigerian news website Punch, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority revoked the license of Amazing Grace Christian Radio for failing to comply with sanctions, which included a 30-day suspension, a fine of two million Rwandan francs ($2,331), and issuing a public apology over the sermon.
The sermon, which aired live on Jan. 29, was delivered by Pastor Nicolas Niyibikora, who allegedly described women as evil several times in the broadcast. "Who can say anything good about women? There is nothing," the pastor reportedly stated in a translation of the sermon that was originally preached in the Kinyarwanda language, according to The East African.
"Women we have now in our midst are prostitutes. Women brought sin into the world and when the world goes into extinction, it is because of women,"
The broadcast drew several complaints from women's rights groups, including the National Women's Association and Rwanda Women Journalists' Association.
The regulatory authority has said that it asked for an explanation about the station's failure to comply with the sanctions, but the response was unsatisfactory.
CNN reports that the radio station was founded by American evangelist Gregg Schoof, who distanced himself from Niyibikora's remarks when he was asked to appear before the Rwandan Media Commission ethics committee back in February.
"I am against any kind of language that is against women," the evangelist told the committee, according to the East African.
"The bible protects and promotes women's rights. But I have not got the entire translation of the sermon since it was in Kinyarwanda," he added.
The evangelist further said that the radio station currently does not have a content manager, noting that he is facing a "financial crisis."
At the time, the committee ordered Schoof and Niyibokora to apologize publicly and hire a content manager for the station.
Schoof has already filed a lawsuit in an effort to resume the operation of the radio station. He insisted that he had done nothing wrong, and argued that Niyibokora has not been found guilty yet.
"I am not Pastor Nicholas. Pastor Nicolas must apologize for himself," Schoof stated, as reported by CNN. "Pastor Nicholas was not found guilty yet. There has been no testimony, no hearing, and no court case for his message. So RURA wants me to apologize for someone who is still presumed to be innocent?" he remarked.
The East African said that the radio station has previously received warnings about shows deemed too controversial. One program called "The Bible and Quran" was reportedly banned for inciting hatred against Muslims.
