Posted on 08/24/2006 10:20:57 AM PDT by jmc1969
Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has banned television channels from broadcasting gory images of daily bloodshed in the country, the interior ministry said in a statement.
During a visit to the ministry on Wednesday, Maliki issued an order prohibiting broadcasters from showing "blood and killings that magnify the horror" and warned of legal action against those violating the order.
Major General Rashid Flayah, head of a national police division, urged reporters to tone down stories that could inflame sectarian passions in a country riven by violence between Sunni and Shiite groups.
"We will let you do the job, but we want you to stop publishing pictures that arouse passions and sectarian feelings," he told a news conference. "You should reject it. We are building the country with Kalashnikovs and you should help in building it with the use of your pen."
Flayah cited a recent report on an Iraqi network in which the police was criticised for raiding a mosque.
"The terrorists had used the mosque to hide weapons such as RPGs (rocket-propelled-grenades) and explosives and when we raided it the media criticised our action," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sundaytimes.co.za ...
Good idea to crack dwon on the terror sympathetic media. We should do that here too, with charges of treason, starting with the NY Times.
I would think that showing the blood shed would rally the Iraqi people to stop the terrorists.
I wish they would show the gory images of 9/11 everyday.
But apparently the Jon Benet case is more important than the WOT to the media.
You would think ... and I suspect for most Iraqis it does. However, for the more militant among the Shias and Sunnis, I suspect it's highly motivational regardless of whose side got blown up.
The problem is that if Iraqis don't feel the Iraqi government is protecting them they will join militias rather then the Iraqi Army. And, these militias are furthering the sectarian violence, which feds the sense of insecurity and thus more people join militias. It is a bad cycle that Zarqawi started intentionally.
This will put Al Jazeera out of business.
The vidios give the impression that the terrorists are strong, and maybe stronger than they really are. Just like how our media plays it to show how Bush's policies are "failures".
The people know what happens when you side with the weak side in Allah-land, the strong will brutalize you and everyone you care about.
It's about time. It was about time three years ago.
when the dvd comes out, it can have the tagline "Banned in Iraq!"
The freest press in the Middle East should take note of the reporting choices they can make that will preserve freedom. I hope they choose better than the New York Times.
I am glad the PM of Iraq made this ban on their TV. It will show some power for the government. And maybe it will make the Iraqi people less fearful. Showing blood shed all the time would cause anyone to fear. I know I turn off TV programs that concern themselves with all kinds of non essential blood and body cuttings. I think it is gross and lends to desensitivity of gore and guts. All that is not necessary for people to see.
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