IRIB World Service decries US-EU ban on Aqsa TV, urges action against media censorship

The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) World Service has condemned a recent decision by the United States and the European Union to ban the broadcast of al-Aqsa TV, calling on media activists to strengthen the front against Western media censorship.

Ahmad Norouzi issued a statement on Monday after the US and the EU threatened to impose heavy fines and bring criminal charges against satellite providers broadcasting the Gaza-based channel. It followed the television network's suspension from the French satellite provider Eutelsat after an Israeli complaint.

Norouzi said that al-Aqsa TV was not only removed from all European and American satellites in "a joint US-EU plot," but also received threats of sanctions from satellite companies based on a fake anti-terrorism law.

"This desperate act came after 25 colleagues of the network sacrificed their lives to deliver the voice and images of the oppressed people of Gaza and were martyred in violation of all international rules," he said.

"It is another example of the brutality of the usurping Israeli regime ... throughout its history of occupation."

Norouzi also noted that the US and European leaders had shown a "humiliating reaction" to the enlightening role played by al-Aqsa TV.

The IRIB World Service "calls on all media activists in the field of resistance ... who have now lost one of the most important media outlets engaged in exposing Zionist crimes, to condemn this move and strengthen their opposition to Western media censorship."

The Arabic-language channel, affiliated with the Hamas resistance movement, has been a crucial source of information about the Israeli genocide in Gaza and violent attacks in the West Bank.

Hamas decries joint US-EU ban on Aqsa TV as an assault on media freedom

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has denounced the joint European-American decision to impose a blockade on Al-Aqsa TV across all communications satellites.

In a statement, the channel vowed to continue its mission despite the "unjust" ban.

The US-EU decision is inseparable from the open war on Palestinian media, which has culminated in the cold-blooded targeting of journalists, it pointed out.

"The occupation assassinated more than 25 journalists from the channel's crew and destroyed its headquarters in the Gaza Strip, in a desperate attempt to silence the truth."

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