Posted on 12/10/2004 11:20:20 PM PST by SmithL
BEIRUT -- Lebanese media officials on Friday warned France not to suspend broadcasts of Al-Manar, the television arm of Hizbullah, saying authorities may be forced to reciprocate against French stations.
France's broadcast watchdog, the CSA audiovisual authority, said Tuesday it would seek to penalize Al-Manar TV over a December 2 broadcast in French that accused Israel of crimes against humanity.
The CSA wrote to the Lebanese Communication Group, which airs Al-Manar, indicating that such comments could violate French law banning hate speech. Penalties could include a suspension of Al-Manar broadcasts or a revocation of its license, as well as fines. A decision could come as early as Saturday.
Al-Manar has defended its position, saying it did not use the words in question with bad intent.
At a solidarity meeting attended by Lebanese journalists and politicians, including leftist and pro-Hizbullah members, speakers accused the Israeli Embassy in Paris of orchestrating the campaign to silence Al-Manar and claimed French officials were yielding to Israeli pressure.
Israel seeks to "close any window that transmits the truth about the Arab-Israeli conflict to Europe and France, because the Israeli aggressor fears the judgment of public opinion there," said Hassan Falha, the director-general of the Information Ministry.
Falha warned that Lebanon might implement "the principle of reciprocity" and reconsider all media agreements signed with French authorities. He did not elaborate.
His words echoed those of Lebanese Information Minister Elie Ferzli, who on Thursday said Lebanon "would not remain silent" in case of French measures against Al-Manar.
The head of the state-appointed National Media Council, Abdul-Hadi Mahfouz, told the meeting Friday that criticizing Israeli policies was different from being anti-Semitic or anti-Jewish.
"Al-Manar does not instigate against Judaism and Jews. ... But how can Al-Manar remain silent about the policies of killing and destruction?" he asked.
Mohammed Baalbaki, head of the Lebanese Press Syndicate, an independent body that represents Lebanese newspapers, said Al-Manar enjoys unanimous support in Lebanon "as a platform for resistance and steadfastness" against Israel.
Targeting Al-Manar, he said, was "a dangerous precedent that threatens the rights of the Arab media in the world." He warned that measures to halt Al-Manar broadcasts could tarnish relations between France and the Arab and Muslim world.
Al-Manar broadcasts focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the station considers itself a voice for Arabs and Muslims. It airs news bulletins every other hour as well as documentaries, game shows, political talk shows and dramatic series produced in Egypt and Syria. The station also runs clips from the Palestinian-Israeli battlefield and videos glorifying past attacks by Hizbullah against Israel.
Al-Manar programs have drawn the scorn of French authorities on numerous occasions in the past. French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said earlier this month its programming was "incompatible" with French values.
In a November 23 program, Al-Manar broadcast a so-called expert who accused Zionists of spreading AIDS to the Arab world. Days later, the CSA called on Al-Manar to respect French law and the contract it signed allowing the channel to be broadcast through France.
"There's nobody to like in this dispute."
Thats why this is so great!
France just can't win for losin...
It's not like the French to surrender without a.......oh sorry, I'm tired.
So they admit using hate speech and lies against Israel, but they were not said with "bad intent."
Al-Manar tried to leave themselves a loophole big enough to drive a truck through.
- Lebanese media officials on Friday warned France not to suspend broadcasts of Al-Manar, the television arm of Hizbullah, saying authorities may be forced to reciprocate against French stations
Didn't we just get an all muslim station in the U.S.?
We could be looking at our future.
P. S. Credit where credit is due: The CSA ("Council of State" Authority) head is gonna be in the dog-house for this.
Was what, logical? These guys can't understand why anybody but an eeeeeeeevil, wicked Zionist would ever oppose their policies!
where?
Ahh Paris! The Beirut of the West!
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