Published
Wed, Feb 8, 2023, 09:00
- The magazine, label and radio station was accused of mishandling an incident of alleged sexual assault at a party in 2019.
Content warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence.
Pan-Arab music platform Ma3azef has pledged to undertake a significant structural overhaul after admitting to mishandling an allegation of sexual violence at a party it co-hosted in Beirut.
In a statement posted on Friday, February 3rd, the online magazine, label and radio station said it will install a board of directors, deploy a decentralised management system, create a human resources manual and establish clear mechanisms for reporting safety and security risks.
These changes were recommended in an Accountability and Safeguarding Assessment, conducted independently by the Centre For Transnational Development And Collaboration. The assessment found that "bad management practices" contributed towards the mishandling of the alleged incident, as did a lack of "any clear policies, processes, procedures, human resources mechanisms, adequate contracts, organisational structure, lines of management and many other tools that are necessary for the management, sustainability and accountability of organisations."
The sexual assault allegations surfaced last June, when Lebanese researcher and activist Fatima Fouad posted a now-deleted statement claiming Jordan-based artist Bashar Suleiman, AKA Lil Asaf, attempted to "penetrate" her at a New Year's Eve 2019 party.
Fouad then posted another statement explaining that she met with Ma3azef staffers, but the meeting didn't lead to any action. She also claimed that Ma3azef founder Maan Abu Taleb encouraged employees to conceal the alleged rape and continue coverage of Suleiman on the grounds that he knew him well.
Ma3azef was denounced by several organisations and collectives following the incident, including Radio Alhara, Exist Festival and Beirut club Ballroom Blitz. The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture also ended its partnership with the platform. (For a more detailed account of the incident, revisit Resident Advisor's coverage on the topic.)
Concluding its post, Ma3azef pledged to manage the overhaul process with full transparency and insisted that it will learn from previous mistakes. The statement added: "It's Ma3azef's hope that these restorative efforts towards reform can serve as a reference and an example for cultural and media organisations in the region."
Palestinian online station Radio Alhara has since released a statement announcing that it is resuming ties with Ma3azef. "We now think that this report has given us a basis to reengage with Ma3azef as an organisation," the statement read. "And to give space to Ma3azef and its people to resume their role in the cultural scene."
Read the Accountability and Safeguarding Assessment and Ma3azef's full statement.
Update, March 7th: This article was updated to include details of the statement released by Radio Alhara.