Press TV viewers have condemned as illegal and hypocritical the ban imposed by the European officials on the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels, saying that the move throws into question the West’s freedom of speech claims.
“Where is the freedom of speech and press in Europe? Hypocrites! When it is against Islam then it is freedom of the press and speech in Europe. Lift the ban now. Double hypocrites. This is the reason why God is punishing Europe with Economic crisis. It will NOT end soon until they acknowledge the truth,” a reader said.
Another viewer said, “Shame on the European Commission. They who have just been awarded the Nobel Price for peace are now suppressing freedom of speech and expression which are essential tools to report on breach of peace and the warmongers!”
“This European’s illegal, illogical, uncivilized measure indicates its serious desperation and panic in facing the growing influence of Press TV across the world,” another comment read.
“Never there was freedom of expression in US or EU, only selective loose talk is branded as Freedom of Expression,” wrote a viewer.
Also among the comments were:
“Freedom of speech does not exist in the West but freedom of silencing the truth does exist. Press TV is a revolutionary broadcaster and has changed the equations.”
“There has never been freedom of expression in the US or the EU, only selective loose talk is branded as freedom of expression. These words are used to defame sovereign nations who are not in line with them politically and ideologically.”
“When Muslims ask the West to stop insulting them, the West claims it’s freedom of speech. And now the West bans Press. It’s a total bias and hypocrisy.”
Press TV has contacted the French media regulation authority, Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (French Broadcasting Regulatory Body) (CSA) for comments regarding the ban. The CSA had said it would provide the network with a response but has so far failed to do so.
European satellite provider Eutelsat SA has stopped the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels, including Press TV, al-Alam, Jam-e-Jam 1 and 2, Sahar 1 and 2, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Quran TV, and the Arabic-language al-Kawthar following an order by the European Commission.
In a flagrant violation of the freedom of speech, the company ordered media services company, Arqiva, to take the Iranian satellite channels off one of its Hot Bird frequencies on Monday.
Following the move by the European company, Press TV launched a Facebook petition to protect the news channel across Europe.
The EU is claiming that the move is aimed at punishing Iran for violating human rights. However, experts believe that Press TV has raised the anger of certain European countries for covering thorny issues including anti-austerity protests.
The decision follows months of jamming of Iranian channels by European satellite companies.
Iranian news channels affected by the decision only sought to break the West’s monopoly on news broadcast by reflecting the voice of the oppressed people to the world.
The illegal move by Eutelsat SA, therefore, is a step to silence all alternative news outlets representing the voice of the voiceless.
Observers believe that the European Union does not respect freedom of speech, and spares no efforts to silence the voice of alternative media outlets.
Technical experts say the jamming was carried out by British technicians.
Press TV