(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In a flagrant violation of the freedom of speech, European satellite service providers Eutelsat SA and Intelsat ordered media services company Arqiva on October 15 to stop 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 TV.
In a round table organized by FNA bureau in Tajikistan, a group of Tajik analysts and journalists voiced their deep concern about the ban, and called on the international community not to let the illegal move go unheeded.
"Undoubtedly, the EU move clearly signifies the Iranian media successful performance. The West's problem is not the Islamic Republic's access to nuclear weapon through its nuclear program, but they have a problem with the Islamic Republic ruling system and its influence on the nations' public opinion," Khalvatshah Mahmoud, Secretary-General of Tajikistan's Media Council, said in the round table.
Meantime, Seimaldin Dostov, the head of Andim study center, stressed the Iranian media's key role in producing and releasing independent news reports and their deep influence on the world public opinion.
"No doubt, the Iranian media' successful performance is the clear reason behind the closure of the 19 Iranian (TV and radio) networks," Dostov stated.
Following the EU move, Chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi sent a letter to French Envoy to Tehran Bruno Foucher, and voiced protest at the recent EU ban on the broadcast of Iranian satellite channels in Europe.
In his letter, Boroujerdi said that the move was "unjustifiable" and the clear violation of international law and regulations by a country which had a background of great civilization and culture.
"Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission strongly urges the French officials to take into consideration the necessity of respecting the principles of freedom and democracy and take immediate action to revise this illogical decision."
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