A Moroccan state TV network has apologized after airing a segment designed to teach make-up tips “to camouflage traces of violence” after harsh backlash from the public.
The station, 2M, aired the segment on their daily show Sabahiyat on Nov. 23. The makeup artist cheerfully told viewers how to hide the evidence of a beating on a woman’s face.
The model used in the program is sporting two fake black eyes.
Domestic violence against women is a “serious phenomenon” in the country, reports the Morocco World News, with over 20,000 cases of violence against women reported over the past two years.
At the end of the program the host says, “We hope these beauty tips will help you carry on with your daily life,” reports the Guardian.
Since then hundreds of Moroccans have signed a petition calling for penalties for both the TV channel and program from the High Authority of Audiovisual Communication, Morocco’s media authority.
“In the name of all Moroccan people, we denounce the message of normalization with violence against women,” the petition, which was created anonymously by “concerned Moroccan citizens,” reads.
“Do not cover domestic violence with makeup, condemn the aggressor!”
The airing of the show came only two days before the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Woman.
That’s when 2M issued their apology.
“The management believes that this section is completely inappropriate and has an editorial error of judgement in view of the sensitivity and the gravity of the subject of violence against women,” the statement on its Facebook page reads in French.