zionist western politicians not capable of silencing Iran voice via media ban

The recent escalating US-led campaign against free speech by targeting Iranian media is not only in violation of all international standards of law, but is also doomed to failure because it is based on the erroneous concept that the truth can be suppressed.

Over the past two years, there has been a concerted effort by the US government and its allies to prevent the people in their countries from being able to receive the broadcast of Iranian channels via satellite.

Spain’s Hispasat illegally ordered Hispan TV be taken off air despite the fact that the channel is officially registered in Spain and operates under the country’s media laws.

European satellite giant Eutelsat has been pressuring service providers to stop carrying the signals of Iranian broadcasters. Using the excuse of the illegal unilateral European Union Council sanctions against the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Eutelsat has warned service providers that as distributors of the relevant satellite capacity, they risk prosecution. Eutelsat has demanded that service providers take the necessary action to discontinue the broadcast of Iranian channels.

Most recently, under pressure from the US government’s illegal unilateral sanctions, Intelsat has announced it will stop providing satellite services to Iranian channels.

An on-line survey conducted by Press TV has shown that an overwhelming 92% of respondents consider the ban on Iranian media by Western satellite companies a violation of free speech.

The unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and EU have no basis in law. There is no attempt at due process. The justifications for the sanctions are not clearly defined, there is no public court hearing to determine the facts and validity of the sanctions, nor is the target of the sanctions provided an opportunity to face his accusers and present his side of the case. It is simply the bullying concept of “might makes right” wherein the US government pressures others to comply with its policies. These attempts to silence Iranian broadcasters are in violation of all international standards of law and human rights.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.”

Then there is the United Nations, which has developed internationally agreed upon rules on the use of satellites in outer space. The most basic concept of the United Nations treaties and principles on outer space is that it shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, with States being guided by the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance.
The principles governing the use by States of artificial Earth satellites for international direct television broadcasting clarifies that activities in this field should be carried out in a manner compatible with the sovereign rights of States, including the principle of non-intervention, as well as with the right of everyone to seek, receive and impart information and ideas.

The principles further clarify that every State has an equal right to conduct activities in the field of international direct television broadcasting by satellite, and that these activities should be carried out in a manner compatible with the development of mutual understanding and the strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation among all States and peoples.

Iran has been the victim of discriminatory practices that have affected its right to fair access to outer space as it pertains to international television broadcasting.

The US government and its allies have desperately been trying to silence the alternative voice of Iranian media. The target of these illegal actions is not only Iranian channels, but also the people of Western countries in an effort to prevent them from having access to information that is contrary to the officially approved line being fed to them by mainstream media.

The most obvious example of this is Press TV, which reveals information that is regularly suppressed by mainstream media. Examples of this include last year’s systematic police brutality against the Occupy Wall Street movement across the US and the riots in London, the disastrous effects of the illegal US-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the racist policies of the Canadian government against the country’s indigenous population, and the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.

This attempt by the US government to maintain its monopoly on knowledge and information in order to control public opinion is not only illegal and immoral, but ultimately futile. People have an innate ability to recognize the truth, and once exposed to it, the effects cannot be wiped away. It is the inalienable right of every person in the world to have access to alternative sources of information. It is the ultimate hypocrisy that this campaign against free speech is being launched by the same governments that preach freedom of expression.

It would behoove European governments to resist the pressure tactics of the US that only serve to harm the people of their countries both economically and intellectually, and instead carve out independent policies that are mutually beneficial.

The truth cannot be concealed forever, and those that want to hear the voice of Iranian media will inevitably find a way to watch the channels of their choice. Iranian channels are also doing their utmost to ensure that their audience can have easy access to their broadcast. For example, Press TV has drastically expanded its distribution via alternative methods such as Cable TV, Mobile TV, IPTV, Live Streaming, Social Media and other online platforms. This has resulted in an increase of our viewership despite the misguided attempts of those trying to silence our voice in a blatant act of aggression and repression which history will not look kindly upon.