Arab Organization Blocks al-Manar's Broadcast via Arabsat

The Arab League-affiliated Arab Satellite Communications Organization has blocked the broadcast of al-Manar television via the Arabsat satellites, the Hizbullah-owned TV network announced on Friday.

“In the latest step in the policy of muzzling voices … the Arabsat company has blocked the al-Manar channel, after the company's offices were moved from Lebanon to Jordan,” al-Manar said in its evening news bulletin.

The Arab Satellite Communications Organization, often abbreviated as Arabsat, is an Arab League-affiliated satellite operator headquartered in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In an apparent jab at the kingdom’s rulers, al-Manar said it “was not silenced by Zionist aggression and will not be silenced by Jahelite malice.”

The channel's headquarters was continuously struck by missiles during the 2006 war between Hizbullah and Israel. Despite the attacks, the TV network remained on air, broadcasting from undisclosed locations.

Al-Manar also vowed Friday to maintain the same coverage of the events in the Palestinian territories, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

In remarks to al-Manar, Information Minister Ramzi Jreij said Lebanese authorities have not been informed of Arabsat's decision, calling on the Telecom Ministry to follow up on the issue through the judicial channels.

The foundation of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) dates back to the end of the 1960s.

On April 14, 1976, Arabsat was formed under Arab League jurisdiction. Saudi Arabia was the main financier of the new organization due to its expanded financial resources as a result of the oil-boom period and Riyadh housed Arabsat's headquarters.

All Arab League states except for Comoros are shareholders of Arabsat.

Lebanon has 3.8% of the shares whereas Saudi Arabia holds 36.7%.

Y.R.