Jump to content

Press TV controversies

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Petrarchan47 (talk | contribs) at 23:28, 15 June 2020 (→‎See also: rounding out see also's per Category:Journalism_controversies_by_media_organ). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Press TV has been the subject of several controversies. The station, a news and documentary network affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran, has been criticised for its uncritical embrace of provocative stances. For British journalist Nick Cohen the station is "a platform for the full fascist conspiracy theory of supernatural Jewish power"[1] and for commentator Douglas Murray it is the "Iranian government’s propaganda channel".[2]

Responding to Cohen and others, politician and Press TV presenter George Galloway has said the station "challenges the prevailing orthodoxy" by providing an outsider perspective on "the truth and a voice for the otherwise voiceless".[3] Mehdi Hasan of the New Statesman has argued that "engaging with Iran, no matter who is in charge in Tehran, is a prerequisite for peace and progress in the region. The very fact that Press TV is Iranian-owned makes it the ideal English-language platform on which to do so."[4]

Criticism

Alleged pro-Government bias

Press TV's news bulletins often feature Iranian ministers, diplomats or government officials, or guest commentators that are able to express views consistent with the Iranian government's "message of the day."[5][6][7]

In a post-election "information offensive," reports the Associated Press, Press TV and Al-Alam have "churned out a blitz of policy statements, negotiating points and news breaks as the main soapboxes for Iran's public diplomacy."[8]

In 2007, the Canadian weekly Maclean's, while noting that "most of Press TV's news reports are factually accurate," alleged that Press TV also publishes "intentional errors," citing a story on the Press TV website that contained the claim, based on "no evidence," that the Lebanese government is trying to convert the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp into an American military base."[9]

In July 2009, Dominic Lawson, a columnist for The Sunday Times of London, criticized Press TV for giving a forum to Holocaust deniers and British journalists and politicians for appearing on Press TV. Lawson said they are "being paid to lend credibility to the propaganda arm of a regime that subjects its own journalists to the most brutal 'political interference.'"[10][dead link]

In August 2009, Ofcom, the British broadcasting regulator, judged that two phone-in shows hosted by George Galloway on Press TV had broken its broadcasting code on impartiality in their coverage of the Gaza War by not including enough calls from pro-Israelis. Press TV said contributions to the show reflected the balance of opinion.[11]

Allegations of antisemitism

Press TV has been accused of promoting Holocaust denial. On the subject of International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27), an editorial on the Press TV website in 2008 noted, "On this anniversary, we all need to mull over the faking of history and the Greatest Lie Ever Told."[12] In 2008, The Jerusalem Post[13] and the British Searchlight magazine[14] criticized Press TV for reprinting on its website an article entitled "The Walls of Auschwitz: A Review of the Chemical Studies" by the British Holocaust denier Nicholas Kollerstrom which was first published by the Holocaust denial group, the Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust (CODOH).[15] The document claims that the Auschwitz gas chambers were used for "benign" purposes only. Press TV described Kollerstrom, by then removed as an honorary fellow of University College London (UCL) because of the article,[15] as a "distinguished academic".[16]

In a September 15, 2009 article entitled "Incendiary Press Reporting," Moroccan journalist Hassan Masiky criticized Press TV for trafficking in "fiction and fantasy" by circulating a suspect story about "an alleged Jewish gang trading in “body parts” and abduction of Algerian children towards Morocco."[17][unreliable source?]

In a May 2011 article reprinted on the website of Press TV, correspondent Mark Dankof, who is also a contributor to the conspiracy-oriented[18][19] American Free Press, wrote an article about how the prediction of antisemitic Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion is "only partially true", and lauded Press TV as "one of the 'few exceptions'" to the Lobby's control of the media.[20]

In November 2013, Press TV website reprinted an opinion piece in its 'Viewpoints' section, first written by M.I. Bhat for Veterans Today, above the disclaimer that The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of Press TV. The article claimed that Jews are not only to blame for the Germans rallying behind Hitler, but also asked if Jews did not learn from their experiences in Germany, Russia and the United States, would it surprise Zionists or the world" if Americans are "incubating another Hitler?"[21] The article also alleged that much had already been written and said about "American Zionists' control of the United States of America - banks, Wall Street, media, Hollywood, markets, politicians, foreign policy, indeed the whole life of Americans," and that the recent headline, "White House urges Jewish leaders not to lobby for new Iran sanctions" was even stronger proof. Bhat also asserted that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were a "false flag" attack committed by "American Zionist Jews and Israel" who successfully diverted the resulting American fury against Muslims.[21] The ADL said Bhat's opinions are "typical of the anti-Jewish propaganda peddled by Press TV as legitimate news."[22]

Allegations about Canada

Following the severing of diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran in September 2012, Press TV began to devote more attention to Canada.

In December 2012, Press TV aired a report entitled "Alberta takes aboriginal kids from parents at high rate" in which Joshua Blakeney, Press TV's Calgary correspondent, claimed that Alberta's child protective services were engaged in the human trafficking of First Nations children. Blakeney stated that "Some upset parents allege that there is a profit motive behind what they refer to as Canada's so-called child protective services" and asserted that an anti-terrorism squad, called INSET, was responsible for the abductions.[23][24][25][26][27]

One of the veiled women interviewed in the report (who was not identified) claimed that her "aboriginal children" were taken by a squad of 32 police officers." Another woman interviewed stated that "It definitely is a money-making scheme, because a lot of native children have been sold into adoption, but it is also used as an assimilation program [and] a genocidal program." The report also showed written messages of "Help me! Now!!", which were allegedly written by abducted children.[23]

The allegations in the report were immediately denied by Government officials and Native leaders. Cindy Blackstock, an associate professor at the University of Alberta and executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada denied the report was true, stating that "The factors driving aboriginal children into care have been well-known for 15 years; it's poverty, poor housing and substance abuse. ... The federal government provides significantly less funding on reserves than for all other Canadians ... but I have never in my life heard of any military undertones to this."[23]

Blakeney has also claimed in reports published or broadcast by Press TV, that the appearance of Canada's new $20 bill was evidence that Canada “remained an imperialist nation” and that "90% of Canadian youth felt stressed about careers." Blakeney subsequently claimed that his reports for Press TV are “defiantly illuminating the skeletons in Canada’s closet.”[28]

Another report made several charges against the Canadian government, including:

  • Secret plans to "steal indigenous children";
  • "Ignorance of the First Nation land rights";
  • Jailing refugees without cause; and
  • using excessive force to suppress student protests.

Another program interviewed Alfred Lambremont Webre, who was described as an "international lawyer" based in Vancouver. Webre stated Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is an "out and out Zionist" who is engaging in the "same repressive policies within Canada that Israel follows within its own territories against the Palestinian people." Webre then described a conspiracy between Vancouver police and serial killer Robert Pickton "to commit ritual Satanic murders with high-ranking politicians." Finally, Webre claimed that the Queen of England abducted 10 Aboriginal children in 1964. Concluding his comments, Webre described Canada as "the ultimate Zionist state under the British Crown and under Israel."[28][29]

Responses

Paul Heinbecker, a former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations and a distinguished fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation at the University of Waterloo, has stated that Press TV is highlighting Canada's First Nations in order to "negate" Canadian reports of human rights allegations against Iran. Heinbecker stated that "The human rights situations in the two countries are scarcely comparable ... but our own very real shortcomings on Aboriginal issues ... are fodder for the Iranian efforts."[28]

Iranian native Payam Akhavan, a professor of international law at McGill University, stated that "Canada's diplomatic posture has elevated its ranking in the regime's demonology charts."[28]

Ed Corrigan, an immigration lawyer and former councillor for London, Ontario, is a regular guest on Press TV. Corrigan, who has boasted that "There's very few people in Canada who have more expertise on Middle East politics than I do," argues that Press TV is demonstrating the "international opinion" of Canada's treatment of its native peoples, explaining that "We tend to forget about our conquest of North America ... but most countries in the world see it as a colonial exercise."[28]

Sanctions

In August 2009, Tariq Ramadan, host of Islam and Life on Press TV, was dismissed from his position as a guest lecturer at Erasmus University Rotterdam, after the university's board decided that his "indirect relationship with a repressive regime" was unacceptable. Ramadan, who also holds a position at the University of Oxford, is considering legal action against the university.[30]

In 2010, the Jammu and Kashmir government banned Press TV for airing video on the 2010 Qur'an-burning controversy saying "We have decided to impose a ban on the airing of Press TV broadcasts by local cable operators. We appeal to the people not to heed unverified reports about the alleged desecration of the Holy Koran which have only been aired by Press TV and no other television news channel in the world."[31]

In July 2013 Press TV and other Iranian channels were removed from several European and American satellites (amongst others those of Eutelsat and Intelsat), allegedly because of the Iran sanctions, even though an EU spokesperson told the channel that these sanctions do not apply to media.[32][33] In November 2012, the Hong Kong-based AsiaSat took Iranian channels off air in East Asia, and in October 2012 Eutelsat and Intelsat stopped broadcasting several Iranian satellite channels, though the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting managed to resume broadcasts after striking deals with smaller companies that are based in other countries.[33]

On April 3, 2012, Munich-based media regulator Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM), announced it was removing Press TV from the SES Astra satellite, as they did not have a licence to broadcast in Europe.[34][35] However, the channel's legal team submitted documents to the court that proved Press TV could broadcast under German law. An administrative court in Germany accepted Press TV's argument and the legal procedures began. Munich's Administrative Court announced on Friday 15 June that the ban was illegal.[36] Since September 2012, the channel has again been unavailable on Astra 19.2E.[citation needed]

In April 2019, Press TV reported that Google blocked their access (along with HispanTV) “without prior notice, citing “violation of policies,” and that they received a message saying “your Google Account was disabled and can’t be restored because it was used in a way that violates Google’s policies.” Although their YouTube channels remain open, no new content can be published. Press TV claimed that Google “has refused to offer an explanation for shutting down the accounts,” and that they have not violated any of Google’s listed policies.[37]

UK licence revocation

In June 2010, Channel 4, the British broadcaster, transmitted a programme featuring Maziar Bahari, a documentary maker and Newsweek contributor, who was arrested while covering the Iranian presidential election in 2009, and held in custody for 118 days. He alleged that a Press TV 10 second interview and 'confession' had been preceded by torture, and was given under the threat of execution.[38] Bahari, now a British resident, complained to Ofcom, the regulatory authority for the telecommunication industries in the United Kingdom.[38] In July 2009, Dominic Lawson, a columnist for The Sunday Times of London, had criticized Press TV for broadcasting the "confession"..."without a scintilla of skepticism."[39][dead link]

In May 2011, Ofcom ruled that Press TV was responsible for a serious breach of UK broadcasting rules by airing the 10 second interview with Maziar Bahari, accepting that it had been obtained under duress while he was held in a Tehran jail.[40] Press TV rejected Ofcom's findings and accused Bahari of being "an MI6 contact person".[41] A fine of £100,000 ($155,000 in January 2012) was eventually imposed in November 2011, reversing an initial decision to revoke Press TV's licence.[42] Press TV responded: "The British royal family exercises an overarching power over all branches in the political system of the [UK], including the government and the parliament, as well as on Ofcom."[42] At the beginning of December, The Observer journalist Nick Cohen called for Ofcom to revoke the station's broadcast licence, not only because behaviour towards Maziar Bahari, but in addition:

"If whites ran Press TV, one would have no difficulty in saying it was a neo-Nazi network. It welcomes British Holocaust-deniers such as Nicholas Kollerstrom, fascist ideologues such as Peter Rushton, the leader of the White Nationalist party – an organisation that disproves the notion that the only thing further to the right of the BNP is the wall ..."[1]

On 20 January 2012, Press TV's licence to broadcast in the UK was revoked by Ofcom.[43][44] The investigation into the Bahari case had revealed the applying company's direct connection to Tehran, and that editorial control came from there. An invitation to change this in the licence had not been taken up by Press TV.[45] The unpaid fine was not the reason why Ofcom ended Press TV's licence.[46]

Geoffrey Alderman, the British historian and occasional Press TV contributor, attacked the Ofcom decision, and called for it to be reversed. He described the action by Ofcom as "thoroughly deplorable as well as palpably cynical".[47] Defenders of Press TV, including Alderman and the broadcaster's legal representative, Farooq Bajwa,[48] have referred to a formerly secret American diplomatic cable dated 4 February 2010. Later released by WikiLeaks, it says the British Government was at time "exploring ways to limit the operations of the IRIB's Press TV service". This 'exploration' was in response to the jamming by the Iranian government of broadcasts by the BBC Persian Service and the Voice of America, also mentioned in the document[49] and mentioned by Alderman.

Staff incidents

Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari, a leading British radio presenter, quit his show on Press TV on 30 June 2009, following the response of the country's authorities to protests over the disputed Iranian presidential election. Ferrari told The Times that Press TV’s news coverage had been "reasonably fair" until the election—but not any longer.[50]

Hassan Abdulrahman

In September 2009, it was revealed in an article in The Times that Hassan Abdulrahman, born David Theodore Belfield, one of the chief editors of the Press TV website from the beginning of Press TV's news department, is a fugitive wanted in the United States. Abdulrahman, who has also used the alias Dawud Salahuddin, is wanted by the FBI for shooting dead at point-blank range Ali Akbar Tabatabai, a former press attache at the pre-revolutionary Iranian embassy in Washington. The Iranian government provided money and airfare to Tehran to Belfield after he allegedly committed the murder. The Times also reported Abdulrahman's claim that he left as chief online editor in July 2009 after the election in protest at Press TV's skewed coverage of that event.[51][52][53] The Times quoted Abdulrahman as saying, "No, I don't think Press TV is about [real journalism]. By its nature, state journalism is not journalism. They have some programmes on there that might be, but generally it's not."[51][52]

Sheena Shirani

Sheena Shirani who worked for Press TV from 2007 to January 2016, said news director Hamid Reza Emadi and studio manager Payam Afshar have been sexually harassing her for years, publishing a recorded phone conversation with her boss Emadi. Press TV suspended both managers following the incident.[54]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Nick Cohen "Who will rid us of hate channels such as Press TV?", The Observer, 4 December 2011
  2. ^ Douglas Murray "Push off now, Press TV, and take your conspiracy theories with you" Archived 2012-01-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Spectator (blog), 20 January 2012
  3. ^ "Ofcom will not silence Press TV", transcript of an interview with George Galloway, Press TV, 8 December 2011
  4. ^ Mehdi Hasan "Book me a slot on Press TV", New Statesman (blog), 16 July 2009
  5. ^ Press TV (March 1, 2009). "Interview with Norman G. Finkelstein: The First Goal of Israel Is to Restore the Fear of Israel in the Arab World". Monthly Review. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Iran Terms IAEA Resolution "Politically Motivated"". Fars News Agency. 28 November 2009. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ [2][dead link] [dead link]
  9. ^ [3] Archived March 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Lawson, Dominic (5 July 2009). "Irans British stooges are staring right at you". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  11. ^ BBC (3 August 2009). "Galloway TV shows 'broke rules'".
  12. ^ "Iranian website promotes Holocaust denial". The Jerusalem Post. May 25, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-05-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ [4] The apologist for terror and the BBC by David Williams, July 2008.
  15. ^ a b Behrens, Paul; Terry, Nicholas; Jensen, Olaf (2017). Holocaust and Genocide Denial: A Contextual Perspective. Abingdon, UK & New York City: Routledge. p. 48. ISBN 9781317204169.
  16. ^ Lawson, Dominic (27 January 2009). "When charities turn political, the BBC is right to tread warily". The Independent. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  17. ^ Hassan Masiky (2013-06-28). "Incendiary Press Reporting". Moroccoboard.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  18. ^ "Anti-Semitism - US: 9/11 Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories Still Abound", Anti-Defamation League, 7 September 2006
  19. ^ Intelligence Files: Willis Carto. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved November 1, 2011
  20. ^ Dankof, Mark (May 25, 2011). "Empire continues to sweat over Press TV". Press TV. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011.
  21. ^ a b "American Zionists incubating another Hitler". PressTV. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  22. ^ "Iran's Press TV Claims American Jews Are "Incubating Another Hitler"". Anti-Defamation League. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  23. ^ a b c Iranian media report claims Alberta police abduct, traffic Aboriginal children for profit by Tristin Hopper, National Post, December 11, 2012.
  24. ^ Alberta takes aboriginal kids from parents at high rate, Press TV, December 10, 2012.
  25. ^ Parents dispute removal of Canadian aboriginal children, Press TV, December 10, 2012.
  26. ^ Lack of fact doesn't stop journalist claiming Alberta government sells Native children by Michael Platt, Calgary Sun, December 13, 2012.
  27. ^ [Conspiracy theorist and Iranian-sponsored journalist takes aim at Alberta] by Ian Campbell, 660News Radio (Calgary) December 13, 2012.
  28. ^ a b c d e Canada and its 'out and out Zionist' prime minister have become the latest target of Iran's Press TV by Tristin Hopper, National Post, January 18, 2013.
  29. ^ Canadian politicians involved in Aboriginal women killings: Alfred Lambremont Webre, Press TV, December 20, 2012.
  30. ^ "Sacked Muslim scholar to sue Dutch university". Times Higher Education.
  31. ^ "Indian Kashmir bans Iran's Press TV over Koran ripping". Sify.
  32. ^ "Intelsat to take Iranian satellite channels off air". Press TV. 26 June 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Iranian channels dropped by Intelsat". Asharq Al-Awsat. 2 July 2013.
  34. ^ Iran slams BBC over film about Israel relations, Jerusalem Post, 7 April 2012
  35. ^ "Press TV ban refutes West's claims on freedom of expression: Lawmaker". Press TV. IRIB. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  36. ^ "German court lifts ban on Press TV". Press TV. IRIB. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  37. ^ Doffman, Zak (April 23, 2019). "Google Cuts YouTube Access For Iran's Press TV And Hispan TV 'Without Any Warning'". Forbes.
  38. ^ a b Kylie Morris and Katie Brown "Ofcom investigates Iran's Press TV over 'interview'", The Independent, 19 June 2010
  39. ^ Lawson, Dominic (5 July 2009). "Irans British stooges are staring right at you". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  40. ^ Sweney, Mark (23 May 2011). "Iran's Press TV censured for interview with arrested journalist". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  41. ^ "A British game against PressTV", Press TV, 22 May July 2011
  42. ^ a b Patrick Foster "Ofcom reverses decision to revoke licence of Iran's Press TV", The Guardian, 30 November 2011
  43. ^ Mark Sweney. "Iran's Press TV loses UK licence | Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  44. ^ "Revocation : Provider of the Service : Press TV Limited : Introduction" (PDF). Stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  45. ^ "Iran's Press TV loses UK licence", BBC News, 20 January 2012
  46. ^ David Blair "Iran's Press TV loses UK licence", Daily Telegraph, 20 January 2012
  47. ^ Geoffrey Alderman "Suppressing Press TV is deplorable – Ofcom should restore its licence now", The Guardian, 24 January 2012
  48. ^ Linda Pressly "Iran's battle for TV influence takes shape on Press TV", The Report, BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2011
  49. ^ Cable cited at "US embassy cables: Retaliation planned after Iran jammed BBC broadcasts", The Guardian (website), 5 December 2010
  50. ^ Presenter Nick Ferrari quits Iran Press TV over 'bias' after election, The Times, 1 July 2009
  51. ^ a b Kerbaj, Richard (4 September 2009). "Top Tehran TV journalist wanted by FBI for 1980 murder in the US". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  52. ^ a b Mackey, Robert (16 September 2009). "Just Another American Hit Man, Actor and Journalist Living in Iran". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  53. ^ Jon Lee Anderson (30 September 2009). "Jon Lee Anderson: A Fugitive in Iran". The New Yorker.
  54. ^ Mortimer, Caroline (8 February 2016). "Iran's Press TV anchor says she was repeatedly 'sexually harassed by her bosses' for several years". The Independent.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Press_TV_controversies&oldid=962768738"