Lebanese PM threatens retaliation over French Al-Manar ban

[drdon326]

Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karameh threatened to punish French media in response to a French ban on Al-Manar, linked to the Shiite Muslim fundamentalist group Hezbollah, for alleged anti-Semitism.

"If the (French) decision is enforced, we will apply the principle of reciprocity," toward French media which are beamed to Lebanon, he told a news conference in Doha.


"Certain French officials have admitted Israeli pressure was exerted on them ... Al-Manar did not make a mistake," he added.


Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat ceased to broadcast the Lebanese television station on Tuesday, following a ruling Monday by France's highest administrative court.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=19&u=/afp/20041214/wl_mideast_afp/lebanonfrancehezbollah_041214171955
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[David__77]

1. Behold--"democracy."

This is a bad thing. It is a shame that this occurred. I'm sure al Manar had abetted racist sentiment, but banning it is unproductive. I'm sure there is Israeli media that abets anti-Arab sentiment as well.

[Igel]

2. I've had mixed feelings about hate-speech bans for years.

I just can't figure out which I think is more valuable, the right of people not to hear "Kill the X" (insert racial epithet of choice) and be the object of incitement of violence, or the right of people to say "Kill the X". One leads to dead or abused X, and the other easily devolves into a persnickety "let's not offend anybody" kind of imposed political correctness. Sucky choice.

Maybe have a law such that if somebody actually kills an X and can be shown to have listened/seen/etc. the incitement, the person spouting the incitement is automatically an accomplice?

Still, a sucky solution.

In this case, it's not an issue. Whew. Al-Manar agreed not to do it. Within 48 hours they did it. They violated the condition necessary for their license.

[pelsar]

4. not in israeli media

In the israeli media, there is no parallel, whereas individuals on the news will say the usual stuipded and ignorent remarks...there are no programs that demonize the arabs/palestenians.

there is no present parrallel in the modern western world for such incredibly inciteful programming and the those groups that finance it, direct it etc should be ostricised

liberalism requries that it defend itself, otherwise it will not exist. It may not be a pure liberalism but it is reality.

whereas freedom of speach may be a right, when its used to create hate a line has to be drawn somewhere, I would suggest that the line be drawn with governments and societies....we can leave the individual alone

[QueerJustice]

3. FAMILY FEUD ??