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Iraqi government shuts Al-Jazeera station
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-07 21:34 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."
Based on the commission's finding, the National Security Committee ordered
the monthlong closure, Allawi said.
Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib said the closure was intended to give
the station "a chance to readjust their policy against Iraq."
"They have been showing a lot of crimes and criminals on TV, and they
transfer a bad picture about Iraq and about Iraqis and encourage criminals to
increase their activities," he said.
"We want to protect our people."
Senior U.S. officials also have criticized Al-Jazeera's coverage of the Iraq
war, calling the network an outlet for the al-Qaida terror network, broadcasting
videotapes and audiotapes purportedly from Osama bin Laden or his aides.
Al-Jazeera denied the allegations.
Al-Jazeera's Ballout said the network was not given a reason for the closure.
He said the closure inhibits the "right of the Arab people around the world to
see a comprehensive picture about what's going on in an important region like
Iraq."
During a July 25 interview with Al-Jazeera in Moscow, interim Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari accused the channel of biased reporting and implied its
journalists could be barred from the country.
"We do not tolerate those who exploit the freedom of the media," Zebari said
then. "These channels have become channels for provocation against the interest,
security and safety of the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government will not be
lenient toward such behavior."
Al-Jazeera occasionally has encountered problems with authorities in other
Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and the former
Iraqi regime. Unlike Arab state-run media, the station often airs views of local
opposition figures and their criticisms of their countries' rulers.
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