France to cease broadcasting Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV

AFP - Lebanon's Hezbollah on Wednesday denounced a decision by French authorities to take the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV off the air, saying the order was unfair and a violation of freedom of expression.
   
"Hezbollah strongly condemns the decision taken by French authorities to stop broadcasts of Al-Aqsa satellite television, considering it unfair and a contradiction of the principles of freedom and justice which France is proud of," the Shiite movement said in a statement.
   
This decision "totally contradicts freedom of expression and clearly reveals the policy of double-standards which France is using," the statement added.
   
Hezbollah urged France to go back on its decision.
   
On Tuesday the deputy head of the Gaza-based station told AFP it had been informed that the Paris-based Eutelsat would stop carrying the channel within two days.
   
"We were told that the reason behind the decision to stop broadcasting Al-Aqsa was 'incitement to hatred,' without any explanation," Mohammed Thuraya said in Gaza City.
   
Earlier this month the French government had ordered Eutelsat, which broadcasts Al-Aqsa through an agreement with Bahrain-based Noorsat, to take the channel off the air after receiving a complaint from the European Commission that it violated rules on incitement.