Iran will not remain silent on Germany taking Press TV off air

Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini says Tehran will take necessary measures against Germany’s illegal move to take Press TV off air.

“We do not want to respond in kind to this move… we condemn this measure (taking Press TV off air). We denounce those who claim to support the free flow of information and talk of democracy but are not willing to tolerate one of our networks,” Hosseini said in an interview with Fars News Agency on Saturday.

He went on to say that, “They only cooperate with and support those individuals who serve their interests. We will also use the leverages we have and will not remain silent.”

Under pressure from the German government, Munich’s media regulatory office (BLM) moved to ban Press TV from SES Astra at 19:00 local time on April 3.

In an email sent to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) officials, Vice President of the SES Platforms Services Stephane Goebel said the BLM has demanded Press TV to be immediately taken off the platform, claiming that the channel does not have a license for broadcast in Europe.

Press TV CEO Mohammad Sarafraz has also described the move as illegal and against Western claims of freedom of speech.

“The measure (removing Press TV from SES Astra) was taken because of the influence of our channels on the audiences,” Sarafraz said on Friday.

“This major role and influence has prompted these people (the Western governments), contrary to their slogans about seeking free flow of information and freedom of press, to resort to illegal and illogical means to eliminate channels,” the Press TV chief added.

The move was apparently part of a plot orchestrated by the West to silence the voice of the alternative news network, and has prompted Press TV to file a lawsuit against the decision.

According to the lawsuit, BLM does not have the authority to pass a verdict for the removal of Press TV from the platform as such an authority is vested in the commission for licensing and supervision (ZAK) in Germany.