Ahlulbayt TV + Hidayat TV R Not Charity

These stations can do a lot of good dawa BUT essentially donations will ultimately go to private businessmen who have not declared their names on the above Companies House registration proofs which also PROVE they are not charities. Many people had assumed they were charities. (THE SHAREHOLDER NAMES ARE ALSO BEING REQUESTED). It is sad that the ulema (whether Abidi on Hidayat or Modaressi on Ahlulbayt) capitulate to businessmen just like political parties do to get donations and in doing so are forced to bring in money for them (in fact it seems the ulema themselves ARE running these stations as a business).

Calls to make such television stations charitable trusts continue to be ignored causing outrage in the shia community. The most detail is found on the following link from the previous management at Hidayat TV.

http://www.hidayattv.net/

What are your views?

Mine is that while initial investment by rich shareholders can bring in much-needed cash it ALSO means that the objective of the media station is ultimately making a profit for its shareholders to whom they are accountable. Ulltimately the shareholders have to be paid back and depending on the directors's decisions will be paid out of the profits dividends. The 95% shareholder in Hidayat TV is a wealthy Khoja community doctor called Dr Kadiwal (nice man I have met him) , who invested approx. £60,000 and apparently wants it paid back from the donations shias give the channel. He will continue to receive profits as determined by the Board after this also. The shareholders in Ahlulbayt TV are members of the wealthy Khoja community who will likewise want your donations to be paid to them, it is not yet known with any reliability if Syed Mahdi Modaressi (nice guy, I have met him) 's family are shareholders though this information is being requested and has been suggested - confirmation is awaited. Anyway, nice guys or not, I personally feel these should all be charities not private limited companies. Otherwise what is the difference between me donating to a shia bookshop and one of these channels? Both do dawa, both are about making profit for a businessman. Might as well give it to a poor shia in a third world country so he can get hospital treatment or his kids go to school and become ulema and do dawa, instead of going into a businessman's hands.

Should we have a poll? Should these channels be charities or private companies?

In fact as the former management of hidayattv make clear in the above videos and their resignation letters, charitable status brings MASSIVE financial benefits as you pay mush less tax than a private company. In fact the 3rd tv station broadcasting in UK is a charitable trust (the urdu ahlalbayt tv, not to be confused with the private company Ahlulbayt tv touted by the Modaressi family) and is the most likely to survive the increase Rupert Murdoch is demanding on rentals from Sky.

Wa Salam