Big expansion signalled for city’s Islamic radio station
EDINBURGH’S only Islamic radio station is set for a major expansion after attracting thousands of listeners.
Radio Ramadan, which features interviews, phone-ins and recitations from the Koran, operates from two cramped basement rooms donated by a design firm.
But it is now appealing for a bigger home as station bosses estimate up to 10,000 people are now tuning in over the course of the month.
The station, which runs during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, first hit the airwaves properly last year after an initial trial-run broadcasting of recorded programmes in 2004.
Since then, the number of volunteers who squeeze into its city centre home, presenting, editing and doing the administrative work, has more than doubled. The station says its windowless premises are now just too small to hold its 40 to 50 volunteers and accommodate live broadcasts, which have grown by more than 20 per cent.
It hosts a mixture of English, Urdu and Arabic-language shows on 87.7FM during the 30 days of Ramadan, which began on September 24 this year.
Station manager Zahid Ali said: “The radio station is a community-wide service that has grown in popularity beyond our expectations.
“We have a lot more people involved this year and with all the equipment it is very cramped. It would be more sensible for us to link with another station as we just run for a month a year.”
The telecoms engineer said that the station had attracted callers from as far afield as Canada and Gaza.
He said they were extremely grateful to Greenprint Design on St Leonard’s Street, which has sponsored the studio for the past three years.
“However we now require larger premises to accommodate our entire regular and guest presenters as well as the team that deals with the administration,” said Mr Ali.
Radio Ramadan is set to feature interviews this week with firebrand MP George Galloway and prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan.
Ramadan marks the month in which the revelation of the Muslim holy book, the Koran, is believed to have begun. During the month, Muslims fast during daylight hours in order to acquire self-control, purity and spirituality.
The festival is also aimed at increasing awareness of the plight of the underprivileged, and raising money for charity.
Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam and is practised by healthy adult Muslims, male and female.
At the end of Ramadan comes the Eid al-Fitr festival, marked by gifts and celebration. Councillor Dougie Kerr, the city’s equalities leader, praised the station’s service and said that he was prepared to talk to the organisers of Radio Ramadan to provide help and information about their options.
He said: “It’s a good service they provide and it is well used and well liked in the community.
“I’d be keen to support them in any way I could and I would be happy to go down there and discuss the options with them if they give me a call.”
