Free Speech for Terrorists

No TV for Terror

A resolution presented to the US House of Representatives to classify a number of Arab TV channels and the two Arab satellite platforms as terrorist organizations has been greeted with silent bemusement by executives of Arab TV companies according to Variety.

HR 1308, entitled "Condemning the broadcasting of incitement to violence against Americans and the United States in media based in the Middle East," calls on the US president to label as a "specially designated global terrorist" Al-Aqsa TV, owned by Palestinian militant group Hamas, as well as both satellite providers ArabSat- operated the Arab League- and NileSat- operated by the Egyptian government.

The bill, introduced by Representative Gus Bilarikis (R, FL-09) on June 26, also cites Lebanese satellite channel Al-Manar, which is owned by Hizbollah; Iraqi channel Al-Zawraa, owned by pro-Saddam Hussein former Iraqi politician Mishan Jabouri; Egyptian satcaster Al-Rafidayn, affiliated with Islamist group the Association of Muslim Scholars; and Iranian state-owned Arabic-language channel Al-Alam as proponents of incitement against the US.

Menassat asked opinion makers in Gaza what, if anything, the repercussions might be. "There is little doubt that Al-Aqsa's content is controversial, but on the ground, people in Gaza view the US decision as a move to destroy any media institution criticizing western, and in particular, American policy in the Middle-East," notes the news site.

"It is also a move media makers in the Arab world and in the Gaza strip say is a perfect example of western double-standards."

Given that Al-Aqsa is affiliated with Hamas, an organization the US has already designated a terrorist organization; it was easier to base the draft resolution under the allegation of inciting violence against Americans and the US, and of sponsoring fund-raising efforts for terrorist activities.

Khalil Abu Shamala, director of Al-Damir (Conscience) for Human Rights in Gaza, told Menassat, "I see the decision as being against all the international laws and agreements recognizing freedom of speech and expression, and the right of every citizen anywhere in the world to ensure getting information without directly affecting others' interests."

Other critics in Gaza have urged the UN not to allow the US administration to take such decisions, criticizing at the same time the recent decision by Arab Foreign Ministers to attempt to regulate Arab satellite broadcasters with the Arab Media Charter.


Indeed, Fatkhi Hamad, Al-Aqsa general manager, said he considers the Arab Media Charter as encouraging the American decision.

Hazem Badaro, the deputy editor-in-chief of the Ramtan news agency in Gaza, argues, "No one has the right to ban it or impose financial penalties on it."

Few people in the local Palestinian press have said much about the bill, opting to take what Variety has called a "wait-and-see" approach to the issue, comments Menassat. TV executives from ArabSat and NileSat (Egypt), which both broadcast Al-Aqsa, have also refrained from commenting (See PR.IV. 6: Censorship in the Arab World.)

Al-Manar is however, already classified by USG as a terrorist organization and prohibited from broadcast in numerous countries.

Libya recently decided to end its support to the Cairo Document on satellite channels and will ask the Arab Information Ministers to follow its example, reports the Tripoli Post.

"I have just been informed about the decision by Information Minister Nouri Al Humaidi and we now look forward to the other ministers in the Arab League adopting a similar attitude," Ashoor Tlissi told in an interview with Gulf News.

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Rather funny.

One of the demands from al-qaeda is to remove all Western media from the 40+ Muslim countries, that the US must prevent any information from the West from entering Muslim countries via the internet, radio, or television.



Funny it is. As soon as I find the articles made by al qaida to this effect, I will link them. Until then, it is simply that I recall reading them.







Al qaida