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| Iraq |
| Iraq imposes ban on Arabic news channels |
| 2003-09-25 |
| Iraq’s Governing Council has banned two Arabic satellite news channels from entering government buildings or covering news conferences for the next two weeks. The Council accused Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya of using their broadcasts to incite violence in Iraq. Both networks deny the claim. "Lies! All lies!!" The Council had considered closing the Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya bureaus in Iraq and expelling their journalists from the country. Council spokesperson Entifadh Qanbar said the sanctions are a penalty for "promoting political violence, promoting killing of members of the government council, promoting killing of members of the U.S. coalition, putting on their screens videotapes of terrorists." Both networks have broadcast messages from Iraqi resistance fighters vowing to continue their attacks on American troops. Al-Arabiya’s news director Salah Negam says there’s no justification for the sanctions. "I think it’s not the right decision to ban media from covering an evolving "Tomorrow’s news today!" Foreign journalists are required by law to provide the authorities with any information they may have about pending terrorist activities. The networks counter that their crews are responding to unspecified tips. American officials have consistently complained about the two channels, saying their reporting is biased and false. No shit. |
| Posted by:Rafael |
| #3 Funny how they get there just before the bombs go off, ain't it? Iraq isn't America yet, Al-Jizz, and that means they can ban your ass any time they like. It's still the Arab world, buckos...and guess what, we aren't going to stand in the way of this particular local custom. |
| Posted by: R. McLeod 2003-9-26 2:50:23 AM |
| #2 That is why 9-out-of-10 despots in hiding choose Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya as the primary distribution of threats. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-9-25 6:26:05 PM |
| #1 They claim the networks’ camera crews have been arriving at locations minutes before bombs go off or shooting begins. You can't teach those great reporter "instincts".Some are just born with it. ..or you do it the easy way and get tipped by your boy "moonlighting" with Al Queda. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-9-25 9:52:51 AM |