A Moroccan channel recently courted controversy by running a show on makeup tips to hide domestic violence bruises. The channel, 2M, was called a disgrace after broadcasting the show, Sabahiyat, and had to apologise for the segment.
On the show, makeup artiste Lilia Mouline gave "beauty tips" to "camouflage traces of violence." She demonstrated the makeup tips on a woman who seemed to have been hit in the face brutally.
"Use foundation with yellow in it, if you use the white one, your red punch marks will always show," she said.
"We hope that these beauty tips help you continue your normal life," Ms Mouline said during the segment. The show was was intended to promote International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.
She also spoke about the best products that can be used to disguise signs of "beating".
The programme received criticism from within the country and outside. The channel apologised for the "completely inappropriate" programme and blamed it on "editorial error in judgement" after receiving flak.
After the segment was broadcast, a petition with hundreds of signatures was sent to High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA) of Morocco to take action against 2M.
"Do not cover domestic violence with makeup, condemn the aggressor!" the petition read.
"No woman should ever have to live through domestic violence, let alone consider covering up its traces. Shame on you 2M," one petition supporter said.
Despite the apology issued, many condemned the channel saying, "You are a disgrace to this society, error of judgement is the joke of the century."
"I was deeply disturbed by your programme, which not only normalises domestic violence, but glamourises it. Instead of empty words, you should make a genuine contribution to a charity that works with victims of domestic violence," Duska Zagorac told 2M via Facebook.
According to a 2011 study conducted by Morocco's High Commission for Planning, six out of 10 women between 18 to 64 faced violence in some form in 2010 alone. Morocco's laws fall short in protecting victims of marital rape and violence. A law has been in making for the last decade and has still not been passed.
