[dehai-news] (Press TV) US Rep. seeks to blacklist Press TV


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From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Tue Jul 22 2008 - 18:23:45 EDT


US Rep. seeks to blacklist Press TV

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:50:22
 
  
A US lawmaker is seeking to extend a previously-proposed resolution
which labels several TV channels as terrorist and include Press TV.
 
The US House Resolution 1308 sponsored by Republican US Representative
Gus Bilirakis would blacklist several TV channels, including the
Tehran-based Arabic language satellite channel al-Alam, as 'Specially
Designated Global Terrorist' (SDGT) organizations.
 
The bill, introduced on June 26, aims to condemn what the lawmaker calls
the broadcast of 'incitement to violence' against Americans in Middle
Eastern media.
 
Bilirakis claimed that as Iranian state-run TV channels broadcast 'the
coverage of rallies and speeches in which Iranian leaders, clerics,
children, and mass audience have declared 'Death to America!'' they are
broadcasting incitement of violence against Americans.
 
Republican US Representative Gus Bilirakis

He then reasoned that if the broadcast of the designated networks is not
brought to a halt, it 'may increase the risk of radicalization and
recruitment of Americans' into terrorist organizations.
 
In the year since Press TV's launch, the channel has gained a reputation
as a satellite channel which, in its news coverage and talk shows,
including Four Corners, Middle East Today, and Fine Print, gives voice
to people with viewpoints differing from that of the Iranian government.

 
Guests on live Press TV shows include pro-US figures and those against
the Tehran government.
 
The move is expected to spark controversy as many human rights groups
and advocates view the resolution as a blatant example of censorship and
an infringement of freedom of speech.
 
The resolution will also compel the president to 'take into
consideration state sponsorship of anti-American incitement to violence
when determining the level of assistance to, and frequency and nature of
relations with, regional states'.
 
The H.R. 1308 is currently in the first step of legislative process,
pending investigation and revision by House committees before general
debate on Congress floor.
 
MD/HGH/DA
 

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