Press TV launches facebook petition to save news channel in Europe

Following the European satellite provider Eutelsat SA’s illegal move to stop the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels, Press TV launches an online petition to save Iran’s English-language broadcaster across Europe.

In a flagrant violation of freedom of speech, the company on Monday stopped the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels, including Press TV, al-Alam, Jam-e-Jam 1 and 2, Sahar 1 and 2, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Quran TV, and the Arabic-language al-Kawthar following an order by the European Commission.

It ordered media services company, Arqiva, to take the Iranian satellite channels off one of its Hot Bird frequencies.

The EU is claiming that the move is aimed at punishing Iran for violating human rights. However, experts believe that Press TV has raised the anger of certain European countries for covering thorny issues including anti-austerity protests.

The decision follows months of jamming of Iranian channels by European satellite companies.

Iranian news channels affected by the decision say they only sought to break the West’s monopoly on news broadcast by reflecting the voice of the oppressed people to the world.

The illegal move by Eutelsat SA, therefore, is a step to silence all alternative news outlets representing the voice of the voiceless.

Observers believe that the European Union does not respect freedom of speech, and spares no efforts to silence the voice of alternative media outlets.

Press TV calls on its supporters to join the campaign and back the news channel by liking the online petition and leaving comments at the following address in order to protect the free speech in Europe:

Save Press TV in Europe