Iraq Muzzles the Voice of Jihad
The Iraqi government has shut down JihadTV for inciting violence and hatred: Iraqi Government Shuts Al-Jazeera Station.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government closed the Iraqi offices of the Arab television station Al-Jazeera for 30 days, accusing it Saturday of inciting violence.
A spokesman for Al-Jazeera called the closure “unwise” and said it restrained freedom of the press.
“It is a regrettable decision, but Al-Jazeera will endeavor to cover the situation in Iraq as best as we can within the constraints,” spokesman Jihad Ballout said.
Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said the government convened an independent commission a month ago to monitor Al-Jazeera’s daily coverage “to see what kind of violence they are advocating, inciting hatred and problems and racial tension.”
Canada, on the other hand, recently granted Al Jazeera a license to broadcast in their country.
