Press TV News Director Hamid Reza Emadi says a wave of attacks launched by international satellite companies against Iranian channels violates human rights and freedom of speech.
�The attacks that started 18 months ago against Press TV and other Iranian outlets are unprecedented in the history of media. Never before in media history have we seen multiple countries targeting the media outlets of one nation on this scale,� Emadi said at a news conference at Press TV's headquarters in Tehran on Tuesday.
�Satellite companies linked to European and American governments are trying to silence Iranian media. We believe this violates human rights, media rights and freedom of speech,� he added.
Emadi further stated that Iranian satellite channels are jammed via neighboring countries in cooperation with Britain.

The giant satellite company Intelsat recently stopped the broadcast of Iranian channels under the pretext of the US sanctions against head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Ezzatollah Zarghami.
�Despite such measures, Iranian media have no problem in conveying their message to the world and Press TV can be watched in all continents on eight satellites,� Emadi pointed out.
The Press TV official said Iranian channels are following up on the case through international legal channels.

He noted that Iran is pursuing the issue through the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) and has presented a lawsuit to this international body.

Emadi said a meeting is scheduled to be held between officials from Iran, Intelsat and ITSO on July 11 to discuss the issue.

Several international satellite providers, including Eutelsat and Intelsat, stopped the broadcast of a number of Iranian channels on Monday, the latest in a string of similar attacks.

The campaign against Iranian channels is considered a violation of satellite rules, under which all nations have the right to use satellites, with the audience entitled to receive information from any source they desire.

On Sunday, ITSO called on the United States and Intelsat to suspend their decision on taking Iranian channels off the air.

ITSO has called on both Intelsat and the US government to consider the option of talks in view of the June 14 presidential election in Iran.

ITSO is an inter-governmental organization charged with ensuring that Intelsat provides services on a global and non-discriminatory basis. It has 149 members, including Iran. In addition to being a member, Iran was previously a shareholder of the organization.

By Press TV

 

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