Iraq Closes Al-Jazeera Office Indefinitely

[DC09]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government shut down Al-Jazeera's Baghdad operations indefinitely on Saturday, extending a one-month closure order imposed after the pan-Arab channel was accused of inciting violence.

Officials at Al-Jazeera reacted with outrage, but did not say how it would respond to the order.

"This decision runs contrary to pledges made by the Iraqi authorities to pursue a policy of openness and to safeguard freedoms of the press and expression," a statement from the station said.

Iraq's Ministerial National Security Committee said in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press that it had decided to extend a suspension ordered Aug. 5 because al-Jazeera had failed to offer an explanation of its editorial policies.

"Based on this lack of respect for an official government order," the committee extended the ban "until a time when Al-Jazeera TV headquarters sends an official response," the English-language statement said.

The station's spokesman, Jihad Ballout, said the office in Baghdad was stormed by Iraqi security forces hours before the order was announced.

"Members of the Iraqi security forces attacked our office, although it's been closed for nearly a month now. They took photographs and sealed it," Ballout said. "They positioned nearly 14 security officers outside Al-Jazeera."

Police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were unaware of any raid.

Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said last month that the government had convened an independent commission to monitor Al-Jazeera's daily coverage "to see what kind of violence they are advocating."

The Iraqi statement said the committee will wait until Al-Jazeera comes forward with an explanation before making its next move.

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As much as I dislike censorship I'd say this is a good move for now. Dont need them there spewing their lies. Have you read any reports by Al-Jazeera?

Wow.

[Stellar]

Yeah, Al Jazeera should be banned. Its like having an Al Qaida run propoganda show in the US.

[Fluffybunny]

It has the news ethics of The Weekly World News and the willingness to pass along anything that furthers their cause of inciting the muslim world to new levels.

While I believe in the Freedom of the press and freedom of speech; there is a line- screaming fire in a crowded theatre isn't covered under the freedom of speech and what they do is pretty damn close to that.

I'd leave them closed as well...

[+joc]

Yes, AJ is just a tool of the terrorist network. I would go a step farther than just shutting them down in Iraq however. I would completely destroy their ability to transmit anything..............now, that's the ticket!

[zukie&jim]

good-show!! i'm glad to see the lieing ba%t#ards booted out ---

[wunarmdscissor]

we shoulda shut them down when they showed our soldiers bodies being dragged through the streets.

Freedom of press is one thing but they are plain racist

[Stellar]

The Weekly World News

I thougth the WWN was a tabloid!?

[LoPar]

Yes, AJ is just a tool of the terrorist network.  I would go a step farther than just shutting them down in Iraq however.  I would completely destroy their ability to transmit anything..............now, that's the ticket!

255304[/snapback]

How long before they acquire some equipment and start broadcasting from another site? Not necessarily Al-Jazeera, but supporters of Al Qaida. Any time something like this happens, the Al Qaida can spin the whole issue as USA and the World against Islam.

[snuffypuffer]

Here's a thought, not necessarily on topic, but it bears some consideration. Al Jazeera always seems to get Osama's latest tape, why don't we get some guys to trace where these tapes come from and boom, we get Osama. After all, somebody's gotta be dropping them off somewhere, why not get a mole in there and find these things out? We could at least find the general area the b******'s hiding out in.

Maybe there's a little more to it than that, but it's a start. Maybe it's already been done, and I'm just sitting here clueless.

[Stellar]

Here's a thought, not necessarily on topic, but it bears some consideration.  Al Jazeera always seems to get Osama's latest tape, why don't we get some guys to trace where these tapes come from and boom, we get Osama.  After all, somebody's gotta be dropping them off somewhere, why not get a mole in there and find these things out?  We could at least find the general area the b******'s hiding out in.

Maybe there's a little more to it than that, but it's a start.  Maybe it's already been done, and I'm just sitting here clueless.

255671[/snapback]

Ive been wonderin about that for a while. I guess its not necessairly Al Jazeera that picks up the tape from a person, I hear though that they get sent the tapes.

[LoPar]

Here's a thought, not necessarily on topic, but it bears some consideration.  Al Jazeera always seems to get Osama's latest tape, why don't we get some guys to trace where these tapes come from and boom, we get Osama.  After all, somebody's gotta be dropping them off somewhere, why not get a mole in there and find these things out?  We could at least find the general area the b******'s hiding out in.

Maybe there's a little more to it than that, but it's a start.  Maybe it's already been done, and I'm just sitting here clueless.

255671[/snapback]

Ive been wonderin about that for a while. I guess its not necessairly Al Jazeera that picks up the tape from a person, I hear though that they get sent the tapes.

255693[/snapback]

Tapes?? What Tapes? I assume that the file is sent electronically and then put on tape if necessary.

Edited September 5, 2004 by LoPar

[snuffypuffer]

I'd always read that they were either audio or video cassettes that were dropped off somewhere.

I'm not sure, granted, they could be sent via email, but still, all you'd have to do is look for the cave with an electrical outlet.

Edited September 5, 2004 by snuffypuffer