bbc: Watchdog blasts al-Jazeera bans (journalist held at GITMO)

[Monkie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4215199.stm

"The Reporters Without Borders group has criticised the US, Canada and five other countries for their "harassment" of Arabic station al-Jazeera."

"It also urged the US authorities to explain the reasons for its detention of al-Jazeera cameraman Sami al-Haj at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, or to release him immediately.

Al-Jazeera claims at least 35 million viewers and has been dubbed the CNN of the Middle East. "

the US,Canada, algeria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia all censor or harass al-jazeera
democracy is on the move (retreat?)

[emad]

1. Watchdog condemns 'persistent harassment' of al-Jazeera

Guardian
Julia Day
Friday January 28, 2005

International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has protested at what it calls the "persistent harassment" of Arab satellite news channel al-Jazeera.

And it has called on the Iraqi government to reverse the August 2004 decision made by the interim leadership to shut down al-Jazeera's Baghdad office.

Reporters Without Borders said that since the start of 2004, al-Jazeera has been "harshly criticised" by Saudi Arabia and America and has been censored in Algeria, Iran, Tunisia and Canada.

The press freedom organisation said that the channel, launched in Qatar in November 1996, annoyed some countries by giving airtime to their opponents and by breaching political and social taboos.
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1401071,00.html

[leftchick]

2. I am surprised about Canada

I wonder why? I have seen the al Jazeera washigton bureau chief on C-Span several times and he was very impressive. A lot more impressive than most US Reporters there.

[MrPrax]

5. The thing with Canada...

It was approved as a digital channel, but then the mostly Jewish lobby with the Pro-American types wanted to make sure that it would censored if there was any anti-Israel and anti-American content...

So the Liberal gov't said OK. Al-Jez will be censored if it runs afoul of Canada's hate laws (vis a vis their occasional guest's anti-semitic remarks, which is understandable, but debateable)

The Pro-American faction (private media, Alberta conservatives, etc) used this approval and demanded that FOX be allowed.

The govt's regulator (CRTC) originally objected to FOX on the grounds the regulator questioned the veracity of it's 'news content'. FOX was also cited for it's French bashing nonsense which delayed it's approval as well

But it finally got approval and some tried to place the same restrictions on FOX, as there is was for Al-Jez. Their rationale was Canada's hate laws and, as YOU KNOW, quite a bit of FOX is very close to 'hate' speech.
They are monitoring FOX, but I don't suspect the govt in Canada will ever censor it. They might if the the French bashing starts again. The biggest opposition to the Fox approval was from Quebec.

[jdj]

3. it can't be more biased than al jafauxba.

how can fox get away with it's b.s.?

[old blue]

4. I recommend the documentary "Control Room"

Eye-opening portrayal of the US media propaganda campaign in Iraq. Produced by Al Jazeera. I found little evidence that they are the demons FOX tells us they are.

[HuckleB]

6. Yes, it's quite good. Best political documentary of 2004, IMHO. -eom-

[Ezlivin]

7. I second that

Just watched it last night and it is a great documentary.

I wonder if that Marine ever went for dinner?

[sherilocks]

8. Control Room is a must-see documentary

If you are on blood pressure medication, beware. It will raise your BP by at least 20 points.