(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A group of western and Muslim media experts criticize western countries for banning Iranian satellite channels calling that a media terrorism and a violation of freedom of speech. Ali Ghassem, Director of Syrian Al Thourah daily, in an interview with Al Alam TV channel said the west is trying media terrorism against Iran since other forms of terrorism has proven futile.
He said,” It seems that the efforts of the west for political, military and diplomatic terrorism against Islamic Republic of Iran have failed, therefore, it is trying media terrorism.” He slammed the ban on Iranian satellite channels as a form of terrorism and a violation of rights of the people and stressed, “The reason for this issue is due to failure of other means to press Islamic Republic of Iran.” Ghassem Ghassir, Lebanese media expert, also in an interview with Al Alam TV channel accused the western countries and their regional allies of struggling to block the voice of Iran to reach the world. “Jamming Iranian satellite channels is a part of the efforts to divert the attentions from the real enemy which is the Zionist regime in a bid to fuel seditions and also show Iran as the aggressor in the region.” he added. He said,” It is not the first time that the European Union (EU) and some international institutes, take measures to silence the voice of the right broadcasted from Islamic channels.” Adding,” Basically the west does not want the voice of Islam to reach Europe, the US or even the Arab countries.” This Lebanese expert condemned western countries for thier claims of freedom and democracy while they lead a dual policy when they follow their demands but do not want others to follow their demands. He said,” Eutelsat, under political pressures decided not to air Iranian satellite programs so that it silences any media which might have a different view from that of the western countries and their allies.” A Palestinian figure from people Front, Anvar Raja, said,” They want to delete the reality so that they dominate the minds of the people and that people merely receive the views of one side.” Jack Barrat, an international relations expert in an exclusive interview Al Alam hailed Iranian Press TV and Al Alam Channels as two powerful television channels which have made it to affect the minds of the global views. Al Hussein Valad Amdu, director of Mauritanian journalists, called the efforts to silence the voice of truth as a void struggle and a move in contradiction with liberal moves. Albert Mark Turner, UK media expert called Eutelsat decision to jam Iranian satellite channels as an incorrect decision and demanded for an immediate lifting of the ban. He said,” Jamming Iranian television channels is an inappropriate decision particularly in the present situation in Syria and Bahrain, when it is important that the two sides can hear each other.” He rebuked the dual policies of the US and some European countries and said,” Decisions to ban Iranian TV channels prove the incredibility of claims over freedom of speech in European countries.” European satellite provider Eutelsat SA has stopped the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels, including Press TV, al-Alam, Jam-e-Jam 1 and 2, Sahar 1 and 2, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Quran TV, and the Arabic-language al-Kawthar following an order by the European Commission.
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