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Australia Rejects Israeli Ordered Media Censorship of Al Manar

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* 17 November 2009, Drama program: Syrian-produced drama series.

* 15 November 2009, Current affairs: Youth; Presenter discusses social networking sites with viewers.

* 15 November 2009, Current affairs: Ma'a Al Mushahideen (With the Viewer). Presenter discusses the war in Yemen with viewers.

* 5 March 2009, Children's program: What is it? Children explaining their illustrations.

* 28 February 2009, Current affairs: Ma'a Al Hadath (With the Event) Presenter discusses Islamic and Christian Holy sites with guest.

In issuing its findings of fact and conclusions of law, ACMA found that Al Manar did not violate Australian law, and was free to broadcast in the country; ACMA did however, issue a caveat regarding two of the above listed programs -- With the Event and With the Viewer.

A majority of the ACMA board felt, on 15 November 2009, that With the Viewers was in breach of clause 1.2 of the ACMA codes, and felt the program was not presented fairly. The ACMA also found the broadcast of the current affairs program, (With the Event), on 28 February 2009, "was in breach of clause 1.3 of the codes, as the program might gratuitously vilify a group on the basis of ethnicity and religion."

However, ACMA still issued a clean bill of health to Al Manar.

A minority on the ACMA board felt that Al Manar should not be held responsible for any code breaches with these two particular episodes because the ACMA survey of Al Manar programming makes clear that Al Manar presenters and program
moderators routinely introduce programs objectively and try to moderate objectionable demeanor from their guests or viewers.

Moreover, they pointed out that both With the Viewers and With the Event programs feature live audience participation. With the viewers, one of the most popular shows in the Middle East, features people calling in to express their opinions on certain issues and current events. During With the Viewers, the presenter will cut calls that cross ethical and religious lines. Defamation is not allowed no matter who or what views are being discussed. For example, Palestinian refugees might call in to talk about their sufferings from the occupation and sometimes passions rise.

All in all, both programs are thought by some ACMA analysts to be rather tame compared to certain American and Israeli programs where racist slurs and ethnic incitements are more common.

In fact, Al Manar has sometimes been criticized for being "too tame" in its wish to be a family oriented station while avoiding controversy. This observer was disappointed with Al Manar when on August 13, 2010 it pulled the widely
praised and award-winning series, "The Christ" (Al-Sayyed al-Maseeh) by famed Iranian Director Nader Talebzadeh because of some murmurs of criticism from certain Christian politicians. The story line shows the Muslim point of view of Jesus and brilliantly presents his life as a prophet. Al Manar said it took the action "in respect of some sensitivities and to avoid any attempt for negative exploitation." However, they said, the series "reflects, with full honor and glorification, of Jesus' life, picture, role, pain and sacrifices."

WHAT THE ACMA DECISION MEANS BEYOND AL MANAR'S CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH

Sometimes the symbolism of an event exceeds the significance of the specific act itself. Few freedom of speech and objective media and journalism advocates are not praising Australia's stance in rejecting politically motivated assaults on broadcasting which is essentially all that the ACMA-Al Manar case represented.

In response, those crusading against Al Manar have issued their boiler plate objections including implying Australian anti-Semitism, ACMA incompetence and growing and dangerous Muslim influence.

Mark Leibler, AIJAC's national chairman, said his organization was "outraged that ACMA ignored evidence that ads of a particular charity, al-Emdad were shown on Al Manar claiming this was a breach of Australia's anti-terrorism standards."

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Since 2013, Professor Franklin P. Lamb has traveled extensively throughout Syria. His primary focus has been to document, photograph, research and hopefully help preserve the vast and irreplaceable archaeological sites and artifacts in (more...)
 

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