TV station pulled off air, press freedom fears grow

FREEDOM THREAT: Rights groups have warned of a wave of censorship following the move by Nilesat to cut the transmission of Al-Hiwar. (Getty Images)

State-controlled Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat has cut transmission of a London-based TV station that has criticised government policies.

The station, Al-Hiwar, said on Thursday it was pulled off the air on April 1 without any explanation.

"We discovered suddenly on the night of April 1 they terminated our transmission," Al-Hiwar Managing Editor Azzam Al-Tamimi told newswire Reuters. "Nilesat did not want to give an explanation."

The move comes less than two months after Arab government's passed a controversial broadcast charter aimed at clamping down on political and religious expression on satellite TV.

The charter bans the broadcast of material seen as undermining "social peace, national unity, public order and general propriety" - accusations governments often throw at political opponents.

Al-Hiwar broadcasts a weekly show on Egypt in which it has criticised the Egyptian government's handling of the Israeli blockage of Gaza and its treatment of detainees.

"We constantly criticise Egypt and other Arab governments for their failure of policies," Al-Tamimi told the newswire. "Egypt has so many problems you cannot talk about it without criticising the government."

Al-Tamimi said that he thought the decision had been taken “at the highest level” in Egypt.

Rights groups have slammed Nilesat's actions and warned of a wave of censorship against critical TV stations.

“Nilesat’s decision confirms the fears we expressed when Arab League members signed a media charter,” press freedom advocate Reporters Without Borders said.

“The threat has been carried out and we now fear a wave of censorship measures against satellite TV stations that criticise Arab governments. This was an arbitrary decision against which Al-Hiwar was unable to defend itself or lodge an appeal.”

This censorship follows harsh criticism of satellite TV stations by President Hosni Mubarak’s son, Jamal, who talked of “one-sided stations trying to harm Egypt”.

Egypt was ranked 146th out of 169 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.

Al-Hiwar has started broadcasting on another satellite which covers around 70% of the area reached by Nilesat, according to Al-Tamimi.

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READERS' COMMENTS

why break the mirror?
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 6 April 2008 at 10:37 UAE time


The press (and people around us, for that matter) are like mirrors, albeit they may be not as faithful in their rendering of our characters. Nevertheless, they give governments an idea of what they look like. Taking down or breaking the mirror doesn't change the fact that there is a mote in your eye, or a booger sticking out your nose.
-- langyaw

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