(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the Iraqi Governing Council to reverse its decision banning the Dubai-based satellite television news channel Al-Arabiya from operating in Iraq until it signs a written commitment not to encourage terrorism. The ban was announced on 24 November 2003. RSF also condemned the government’s use of police to close the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the Iraqi Governing Council to reverse its decision banning the Dubai-based satellite television news channel Al-Arabiya from operating in Iraq until it signs a written commitment not to encourage terrorism. The ban was announced on 24 November 2003. RSF also condemned the government’s use of police to close the station’s offices in the Baghdad district of Al-Mansur.
The ban was imposed after Al-Arabiya broadcast an audio tape on 16 November in which a voice said to be that of Saddam Hussein was heard urging Iraqis to kill members of the United States-installed transitional government.
“The handling of the news is the sole responsibility of news editors,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said. “Iraq’s new authorities should not try to pressure a news organisation to change its editorial line by using force. Such methods belong to the past and are contrary to the promises of democracy made to the Iraqi people.” Ménard said a news organisation is not guilty of inciting murder because it broadcasts a message in which a person who is allegedly Saddam Hussein is heard calling for murder.
“Instead of preventing journalists in the field from doing their work, the Iraqi Governing Council should address its objections to the television network’s management and should get down to the job of setting up a body to regulate and monitor the news media, consisting of elected members of the media,” Ménard added.
Iraq’s interim government previously banned Al-Arabiya and fellow Arabic satellite news channel Al-Jazeera from covering its official activities for two weeks after the stations broadcast audio tapes said to be of Saddam Hussein at the time of the murder of interim government member Akila al-Hashimi on 20 September (see IFEX alert of 24 September 2003).
