Alwaght- The media war, in the modern world, cannot be seen as a separate conflict. Instead, it is part of, if not complementary to the ongoing international confrontation. It is the medium, the tool, through which the good is demonized, the evil is victimized, minds are shaped, and opinions are swayed, all under the manchette of the so-called truth and the headline of so-called objectivity.
In tandem with a worldwide campaign against the “other” point of view, Arabsat, a satellite company has barred the Al-Manar TV broadcast not long after it did the same with pan-Arab news channel Al-Mayadeen.
“In the context of the new policy of silencing the voices of freedom, Arabsat company blocked Al-Manar TV broadcasting via its satellites after moving its headquarters from Lebanon to Jordan,” the Hezbollah-affiliated channel’s news introduction declared on Friday.
Al-Manar has long been known to be the voice of the oppressed against injustice, the voice of resistance against hegemonic and occupying powers. This move is perceived by supporters of the news channel as well as observers as a bid to muffle its voice, particularly, in light of recent regional wars.
It is critical to look at its dimensions as a politically-motivated move.
Perhaps the most controversial coverage Al-Manar has undertaken is that of the war on Yemen where Saudi Arabia, backed by a coalition of Arab and non-Arab states, is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. This war has received little attention from media outlets which have sided with the Saudi aggressor against the people of Yemen.
This war on news channels, that have spoken up against the war on Yemen and reported the unseen side of the conflict, may be viewed as Riyadh’s way of intervening to save face.
Yet this war is only months old. The Zionist occupation has been the top focus of Al-Manar’s reporting as it has continuously defended the rights of the Palestinian people and condemned the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime against Palestinians and Islam’s sanctities since 1948.
“We will support the Palestinian Intifada as well as its men, women, elders and youngsters,” the channel said defiantly affirming that it will continue to be the voice of the oppressed.
“Al-Manar is the voice of the Yemenis who suffer from the worst forms of oppression.
Al-Manar is the voice of the Bahrainis, Saudis, Iraqis, Syrians, Tunisians, Egyptians, and all the Arabs and Muslims.”
Freedom of press, here, is under threat and the first and foremost victim of this decision. While it was no surprise to Al Manar that Arabsat would undertake such actions after news of Al Mayadeen’s banning spread, pressure to change the station’s policies were mounting. This, is now seen, as the final ultimatum.
However, both Al-Manar and Al-Mayadeen have vowed to keep echoing the truth in spite of increasing pressure, threats, and measures in the form of removing them from the satellite. Al-Manar has promised to remain a flame whose glare will not be put out.
Now many fear that it is only a matter of time before other truth-speaking media outlets will be targeted by such powers, putting not only the truth at risk but freedom of expression as a whole as well.
