Feb 28, 2005, 8:03 PM

France’s ban on Sahar TV violates human rights conventions: Iraqi analyst

TEHRAN, Feb. 28 (MNA) -- The French government has violated all human rights conventions by banning the Iranian television network Sahar-1 from broadcasting in France, the director of the Iraq Information Dissemination Center, Nazar Heydar, said on Monday.

France’s recent measure runs contrary to the principle of freedom of speech and the basic principles of the French Revolution, liberty, equality, and fraternity, he told the Mehr News Agency.

 

Heydar, a Middle East analyst who resides in Washington, expressed regret that the decision to ban Sahar TV was made by a country that claims to uphold democracy and freedom and to support freedom-seeking movements of nations across the globe.

 

It was a bad decision, particularly at this sensitive juncture, with the Middle East region in need of the free flow of information, he pointed out.

 

France’s decision to ban broadcasts of Sahar TV is due to the U.S. pressure on Paris, Heydar opined, adding that the U.S. fears the free flow of information since it would present an accurate portrayal of the realities in Syria and hotspots like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.

 

He observed that France faces a dilemma: succumbing to U.S. pressure or supporting Middle Eastern states.

 

In conclusion, he said that the country’s recent measure as well as some similar decisions that it has made in the past will damage France’s reputation in the Middle East.

 

HL/HG

End

 

MNA

News Code 10553

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