Iranian Ambassador slams Eutelsat
October 31, 2012
By Chris Forrester
Iran’s Ambassador to France has strongly criticised satellite operator Eutelsat for taking down his state-backed IRIB television and radio channels. Ambassador Ali Ahani met with Eutelsat’s CEO Michel de Rosen, and subsequently issued a statement.
“Depriving millions of viewers and listeners of television and radio programs of different channels of the Islamic Republic of Iran across the world is a blatant violation of human rights and international treaties which emphasize freedom of expression and freedom of public access to news and information,” Ahani’s statement said.
He continued by arguing that Eutelsat’s decision was a “flagrant” breach of treaties that exist between France and Iran.
Eutelsat removed the channels on October 18th. Last week Intelsat also removed the channels.