Journalists' group slams Iraqi ban on Al-Jazeera

[Barrett808]

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the one-month forced closure of the Baghdad offices of the pan-Arab television Al-Jazeera as a blow to press freedom in the country.

The group described the Iraqi government's decision as an act of "unacceptable and illogical censorship that casts a shadow over hopes for a new era of press freedom".

"The action appears to be an attempt to silence a persistently independent voice that has fallen out with a number of Arab regimes over its robust journalism," the IFJ charged in a statement.

Iraq's interim government on Saturday ordered the Qatar-based satellite news channel to close its Baghdad offices for 30 days, accusing it of incitement to violence.

"The ban on this station sends a bleak message to all of those who are hoping that democracy will take root in Iraq and the region," said Aidan White, the IFJ's secretary general.

(a bit more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040809/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_media_jazeera_ifj&cid=1514&ncid=1480

[Jacobin]

1. They don't want any witnesses to the disintegration of Iraq

[clydefrand]

2. But CNN has Bill Hemmer there so all is not lost! n/t

[tom_paine]

3. Wow, Imperial FreedomStan (formerly Iraq) sure is free, ain't it?

At LEAST as free as any Soviet satelite state.

[Barrett808]

4. US struggles to defend Iraqi closure of Al-Jazeera office in Baghdad

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States struggled to reconcile its normal forceful advocacy of international press freedom with a defense of the Iraqi interim government decision to close the offices of the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television network in Baghdad.

The State Department said the move was a "difficult decision to second guess" and noted that Al-Jazeera had in Washington's eyes been guilty of inciting violence -- the reason given by Iraqi officials for the closure -- numerous times in the past.

"I'm not comfortable giving you a judgment call on it," deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said, refusing to criticize Saturday's move when asked whether the United States believed the move was positive or negative.

"This was an Iraqi decision," he said. "We had nothing to do with it. It was a decision that the Iraqi government made based on what they feel is the interests of the people of Iraq."

"Obviously, we are supportive of a free and independent media," Ereli said, adding that despite the 30-day closure of the Al-Jazeera offices, the Iraqi government had been supportive and tolerant of press freedom.

"I think that if you look at the media scene generally in Iraq, you will see a quite vibrant and dynamic press that is frequently critical of the government of Iraq, frequently critical of decisions by and policies of the government of Iraq," he said.

But he acknowledged that: "This is a difficult situation."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040809/pl_afp/us_iraq_media_jazeera&cid=1521&ncid=1480

[Barrett808]

5. This story also being freeped: Rating 1.27 with 29 votes n/t

[Nambe]

6. I find their website surprisingly neutral.

Faux news should be shut down. Al-Jazeera has never focused on US prison abuses or civilian casualties like any Murdoch rag would have done in their position. What a mess!!!!
Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[Barrett808]

7. Media Watchdog Urges Iraq to Lift Al Jazeera Ban (freeping started)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Iraq's interim government should immediately lift its ban on Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite television network to show it respected press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday.

The interim government announced on Saturday it had ordered Al Jazeera to close its Baghdad office for one month after finding it had "encouraged criminals and gangsters" in Iraq, a charge the channel denied.

"The closure is a serious blow to press freedom in Iraq and what Iraqi officials should do is engage channels that they disagree with rather than censor them," New York-based CPJ's Mideast program coordinator Joel Campagna said.

"Viewers lose out by not having the choice of Al Jazeera about what is going on in Iraq and the credibility of the interim government as one that supports the principles of press freedom is undermined," Campagna said.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040809/ts_nm/iraq_aljazeera_dc

Freeping has started on this story as well. Vote it up!

[NeoConsSuck]

8. And if the prick wins a second term..

will they try to shut down DU on the grounds it incites anti neocon feelings?

Don't put anything past the neocons if they win a second term.

[slojim240]

9. We have the same thing here in the US...it's just not called a ban...

it's called "fair and balanced."