Spain takes Iranian channel Hispan TV off air

The Spanish government has ordered the satellite service provider Hispasat to take the Iranian Spanish language channel, Hispan TV off the air in a blatant assault on the freedom of speech.

The move comes a month after the Spanish satellite company – Hispasat – terminated the terrestrial broadcast of Hispan TV.

Back then, the move was immediately welcomed by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), which called it an important development in worldwide efforts to contain Iran’s media influence.

AJC Executive Director David Harris has acknowledged that the committee had for months been engaged in discussions with the Spaniards over taking Iranian media off the air.

Hispan TV, along with Iran’s 24-hour English language news channel Press TV, has already been targeted by Hispasat’s fellow European satellite providers Eutelsat and Hotbird.

Hispasat is partly owned by Eutelsat, whose French-Israeli CEO is blamed for the recent wave of attacks on Iranian media in Europe.