Monday, August 03, 2009

Media Authority slammed over Hezbollah broadcast

From The Australian, 3 August 2009, by Simon Canning:

...In a finding that has been criticised by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, the Australian Communications and Media Authority [ACMA ] found that al-Manar TV, a Lebanese broadcaster beamed into Australia via an Indonesian satellite, had not breached the Anti-Terrorism Standard.

..."While the ACMA found references in some program content to a designated terrorist organisation (Hezbollah), there was no content that could reasonably be construed to directly recruit people to join or participate in the activities of Hezbollah, or to solicit funds for (or assist in the collection or provision of funds for) Hezbollah," the finding said.

Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, said: ..."The hatred, incitement to violence and racism broadcast on al-Manar, and its attempts to raise funds for a terrorist organisation, have not changed in recent years ...Al-Manar is banned in France, Germany, Spain and the US. It should also be banned in Australia."

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