Ethnic politics of Khuzestan: Encyclopedia II - Ethnic politics of Khuzestan - Media

Ethnic politics of Khuzestan - Media

Ethnic politics of Khuzestan - Newspapers

The editor of Ahvaz's Persian language Hamsayeha newspaper, Mohammad Hezbawi (also known as Hezbaee Zadeh), was arrested in September 2005 but later released. [52]

Ethnic politics of Khuzestan - Television

Television broadcasting in Arabic language in Khuzestan is state-owned (e.g.) as is the case in other parts of the country, but many inhabitants also watch foreign Arabic language satellite channels. The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera news channel was blamed by the Iranian government for its coverage of anti-government protests by Arabs in April 2005. It was also angered by Al-Jazeera's interview with a member of the separatist Al-Ahwaz Arab Peoples Democratic Popular Front (ADPF) who spoke of "80 years of Iranian occupation in Khuzestan". Following the ban, Aidan White, the General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, said:

In recent years, Ahwazi Arab groups have broadcast to Khuzestan. A report by BBC Monitoring published in January 2006 stated that there were two Ahwazi Arab satellite channels: Ahwaz TV and Al-Ahwaz TV.[54] The differences between the two stations appear to reflect the ideological schism between those groups that advocate an independent Arab state and those calling for greater autonomy within Iran.

Ahwaz TV is affiliated to the Canada-based "National Liberation Movement of Ahwaz" and describes itself as "the television of occupied Ahwaz", "the voice of Arab strugglers in Ahwaz" and "the voice of the Arab Ahwazi revolution". According to the BBC, "it calls for independence, an end to 80 years of 'occupation' and integration into the greater Arab nation." Recent programmes broadcast by Ahwaz TV appear to indicate that it also has the backing of the ADPF. The archived footage can be access from the channel's website. [55]

Al-Ahwaz TV is affiliated to the UK-based Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz (DSPA) and funded by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS).[56] BBC Monitoring says the station is broadcast on the Assyrian Betnahrain satellite channel (http://www.assyriasat.org/sat/default.htm), on Hot Bird 6 at 11585 MHz. Al-Ahwaz TV's website stated that it is "an independent, grass-roots broadcaster transmitting to the Ahwazi Arab homeland" and claims to promote

It states that it is "not supported by any government or government-funded institution" and is "run, staffed and owned by Ahwazi Arabs and run by a democratic editorial collective." BBC Monitoring also quotes BAFS as stating that "it does not support separatism and upholds the territorial integrity of Iran as a multi-ethnic country with regional autonomy."

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Media", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki