Islamic News

«The fight against terrorism» against freedom of speech – Analysis – News

Hardly anyone would dispute the assertion that freedom of speech is one of the main foundations of a democratic society. But if this truth, no one tries to refute publicly, it must be noted that in recent years on this core value in a number of countries, positioning itself not just as a democracy, but democracy as a standard, consistent way offensive.

This is a and the notorious «political correctness», under the banner of which the countries of the Western bloc persecuted dissent, which prohibit people call a spade a spade: white – white and black – black. This was followed by «holokostnye» laws under which people are trying to conduct an independent investigation of persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany and the occupied territories risk being behind bars.

Now, it seems, the U.S. authorities took the offensive against the remnants of free speech under the win-win of the fight against terrorism.

As reported Associated Press, in the United States behind bars sent 45-year-old resident of New York, the native of Pakistan, Javed Iqbal, for broadcast in the United States «Al-Manar» – Lebanese television, which is typically associated with the Shiite movement Hezbollah. … He was convicted for aiding terrorists, and was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison. After Iqbal run on the full range of «counter-terrorism» in hell of them the FBI, in December, he went to deal with the investigation and pleaded guilty to aiding a foreign terrorist organization. American human rights activists and representatives of the Muslim community do not doubt that this deal was broken from it.

It should be noted that the U.S. government, like Israel, considers the movement «Hezbollah» to terrorist organizations . Thanks Iqbal channel «Al-Manar» North America was broadcast around the clock from November 2005 to May 2006.

As the Assistant Federal District Attorney Eric Snyder, Iqbal established a close cooperation with «Al-Manar», and even traveled to Beirut where he met with the head of the channel. During the broadcast of programs of «Al-Manar» Brooklyn, through his company HDTV Limited businessman who settled in the United States more than twenty years ago, on a monthly basis to receive 28 thousand dollars.

During the trial, defense is futile tried to prove that Iqbal has worked with «Al-Manar» not from ideological considerations, and no sympathy for terrorism. The lawyer accused, in particular, has stressed that HDTV is also broadcast Christian programs, programs for adults, Jamaican channel and the channel for sexual minorities. In addition, prosecutors blame in the infringement of constitutional rights. The court did not adopt defenses.

Several earlier broadcasting «Al-Manar» was banned in Germany for the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry believes that the television channel in violation of Article 9 of the German Constitution, 2 nd paragraph of which reads: «Association, aims and activities are contrary to criminal laws or are directed against the constitutional order or against the ideas of mutual understanding between peoples, is prohibited». The Ministry refused to provide a more detailed explanation.

Prior to this, television was banned in France, twice a ban on the broadcasting authority ruled Australia.

is noteworthy that «Hezbollah», which is the most massive political organization in Lebanon, and a very authoritative in some countries in the Middle East, only in the United States on the list of terrorist organizations. In Europe, «Al-Manar» (translated from Arabic – «beacon») was accused of inciting anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism. Curiously, the Israeli or American channels do not come to a head accused of fueling anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment, although the reasons for this are more than enough. This election now «political correctness» and tolerance.

«Hezbollah» launched its channel in 1991. At first broadcast was in Lebanon only, but since 2000, «Al-Manar» began satellite broadcasting, and later an opportunity to receive the channel via the Internet.

Hatred of Israel and sympathetic to him modes to the channel is quite understandable. «Al-Manar» was one of the priorities of the Israeli Air Force during the aggression against Lebanon in 2006. And just a few hours after the entry into force of UN resolution on a ceasefire, «Al-Manar» was again in television.

The whole world saw the broadcast live from destroyed buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The table was set for the lead among the ruins, two leading wore traditional Muslim clothing. Then, «Al-Manar» resumed broadcasting from the main studio at the headquarters station.

Head Office Channel in the south of Beirut was destroyed during the air in the first days of war. Despite this, the station disappeared from the ether in a few minutes. The Israeli army destroyed several TV transmitters, but could not compel him to silence. This last dish TV «Hezbollah» has been attacked in just 15 minutes before the entry into force of the UN resolution.

There is thus a logical question: so who is the terrorists – those who bombed the city, homes, schools, hospitals, editorial and media studio, or those who tried to tell the world about creating crimes?

But for the West answer to this question is obvious: the story of the crimes of Israeli troops from a U.S. perspective – terrorism, but, according to the EU – the incitement of anti-Semitism.

Center for political freedom