Stop TopTV porn, say Christians

Johannesburg - While human rights groups say freedom of speech entitles TopTV to broadcast pornographic channels on its satellite pay television services, Christian groups have reacted violently to this.

Pornography is just as addictive and destructive as drugs, Taryn Hodgson of the Christian Action Network said in its presentation at the community trials of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

Icasa must decide by the end of this month whether TopTV may broadcast three 24-hour pornographic channels.

"Drugs are illegal and pornography should also be illegal," she said.

According to her, freedom of speech is not the only constitutional right at issue here.

"Pornography infringes on rights such as dignity, equality and hate speech. Women among others are humiliated in pornography and reduced to sex objects," she said.

In contrast to this, the Freedom of Expression Institute says pornographic material is already widely available at sex shops and on the internet. The FXI believes subscribers of pay television services must be able to decide for themselves which footage they want to pay for.

According to a written submission of the FXI Icasa must rather focus on strict mechanisms that TopTV must established to ensure that only adults have access to the channels and that regulations of the film and publication board are met.