Hizbullah Slams 'Blatant Violation of Freedom of Expression' after NileSat Drops al-Manar
Hizbullah strongly condemned Wednesday a decision by a leading Arab satellite operator to cut transmission of its al-Manar television channel, amid rising tensions between the Iran-backed Lebanese group and Saudi Arabia.
“Hizbullah sees a blatant violation of freedom of opinion and freedom of expression in the unjust decision that was taken by the Egyptian Satellite Company (NileSat),” the party said in a statement.
It also described the move as “an attempt to muzzle the voice of resistance and right that is embodied in this channel.”
The decision “is very far from what was hoped from Egypt during this period and from the role that Cairo can play to rectify the course of events in the region,” Hizbullah added.
“It shows full compliance with the onslaught that some Arab regimes are waging against the resistance and all its sectors, including the journalistic field,” the party went on to say.
It also called on NileSat's administration to “immediately reverse the decision, in line with the right to freedom of expression and with the laws that regulate the relations between the company and the media firms that deal with it.”
Al-Manar was taken off NileSat on Tuesday and officials at both the TV network and the Cairo-based NileSat confirmed Wednesday that the transmission had been cut over accusations the channel violated its contract by airing programs promoting “sectarian” divisions.
"This is a political decision, not an industry decision. Al-Manar has nothing to do with sectarian strife," the channel's general manager Ibrahim Farhat told AFP, calling the move "unjust and arbitrary."
"This is part of the political problem in the region, that they're taking out on the media," Farhat said.
Asked about the decision to cut al-Manar's transmission, a senior NileSat official said channels "must abide by not airing any violent or racist content, or provoking sectarian strife."
"No other channels have violated the contract," he told AFP, in response to a question on whether any other Lebanese channels would be affected.
The cut came ahead of an expected visit this week by Saudi King Salman to Egypt, which operates the NileSat satellite.
Last month, Gulf Arab states led by Saudi Arabia blacklisted Hizbullah as a "terrorist" organization.
Earlier this year, the kingdom halted a $3 billion program of military aid to Lebanon to protest what it said was "the stranglehold of Hizbullah on the State."
It also urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid traveling there.
Al-Manar said on Twitter that it could still be watched via a Russian satellite or online.
The moves against Hizbullah come amid a spike in tensions between its backer Tehran and Riyadh this year after demonstrators stormed the kingdom's missions in Iran following Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite dissident cleric.
The kingdom cut diplomatic ties with Iran and led Arab allies in a series of retaliatory measures against it.
And while Saudi Arabia is the main supporter of Syria's Sunni-led rebels, Hizbullah is fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's troops, who are backed by Iranian military advisers.
Y.R.
M.T.
9 years
you might be interested in reading this:
The Panama Papers: Politicians, criminals, and the rogue industry that hides their cash
http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2016/04/the-panama-papers-politicians-criminals.html
"The Panama Papers expose offshore companies controlled by the prime ministers of Iceland and Pakistan, the king of Saudi Arabia and the children of the president of Azerbaijan. They also include the names of at least 33 people and companies blacklisted by the U.S. government because of evidence that they’ve done business with Mexican drug lords, terrorist organizations like Hezbollah or rogue nations, including North Korea and Iran."
9 years
Excactly! Look at the lack of diversity of opinions within the shiah community compared to the christian and to a certain extent the sunni. Look at how those who has tried to lift their voices against Hezbollah or Iran . Look at how Gibran Tueini ended his life...
9 years
these subhumans are repulsive; very repulsive.
9 years
"It also described the move as “an attempt to muzzle the voice of resistance and right that is embodied in this channel.”
When Hezbollah burned down Future TV in Rouche' and occupied Future TV in Quntari they were practicing freedom of speech. When they burned AL Jadeed TV they were not attempting to muzzle freedom of expression.
This terrorist org embodies the word "hypocrisy".
9 years
They've been imposing their Ideology on Lebanon, even forcing their revolutionary guard views onto the original Shia of Lebanon, manipulating the Christian population and killing anyone who opposes them...and here they are blabbering about "freedom of speech." I needed a good laugh :P
9 years
The iranian terrorists are crying foul now. They pour their poison and hatred every single second on anything and everything that has to do with the Arab world and now they complain. To add insult to injury, they use the term " freedom of expression".
9 years
Sad.... very Sad.
For the life of me, I can't figure this one out. What did Al Manar do or say to deserve being boycotted and its broadcasts to the world at large terminated? what? what?
An Iranian funded and managed free speech advocate TV station is now not allowed to expose Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries? Is that fair? I say definitely not! Is now presenting an objective and unbiased iranian point of view a sin that requires punishment and reprimand?
We should be grateful to Al Manar for bringing us the latest and greatest on the accomplishments of our iranian resistance from the fronts in Iraq, Bahrain, Syria, Bulgaria, Argentine among other places where our resistance is defending and protecting Lebanon.
9 years
Ebola is more and more cornered... their people are dying in quantities in Syria, Iranian funding has been down 70% in the past 3 years, the banks with which they collaborate are under huge pressure, their supporters are being kicked out of the Arab countries, their Tv Station in being cut off from the major Arab satellites, they have been labeled terrorists by the GCC, the assets of many of their leaders have been frozen in KSA and USA...all this in the last 6 months... what goes around comes around... go to hell Ebola!
freedom of expression and hezbollah somehow don't mesh. A terror group that silences its critics through intimidation, threats, weapons, and assassinations should not speak of freedom of expression.