CATM Congratulates Satellite Companies for Removing Hezbollah’s Terrorist Radio

Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2006) – The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and its Coalition Against Terrorist Media (CATM), congratulates France Telecom’s GlobeCast satellite distributor and the Spanish satellite provider Hispasat for removing Hezbollah’s al-Nour radio from broadcast over three satellites reaching Latin America, Asia and Europe. 

The move followed the designation last week of Hezbollah’s al-Manar television station, al-Nour radio, and the parent company of both, the Lebanese Media Group, as Specially Designated Global Terrorist entities by the U.S. Treasury Department.

“Once alerted to the problem, GlobeCast and Hispasat have been extraordinarily responsive in removing Hezbollah’s media properties from broadcast and should be congratulated,” said Mark Dubowitz, COO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, which founded CATM.  “Al-Manar and al-Nour are funded by the Iranian regime and used by Hezbollah to recruit suicide bombers, raise money for terrorist operations, and incite violent attacks.  The Treasury Department’s recent designation sends an unmistakable signal that their broadcasts must not be tolerated.”

Hispasat informed CATM that it had terminated al-Nour’s broadcasting to South America.  GlobeCast informed CATM that it had removed al-Nour from feeds to AsiaSat, a Hong Kong-based provider that reaches much of Asia, and New Skies Satellite, a Netherlands-based broadcaster reaching much of Europe.  The transmission was discovered as part of a mix of radio programs provided by ARABSAT, the majority Saudi-owned provider that reaches the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.  Egyptian-owned satellite provider Nilesat also continues to broadcast al-Manar to those locations. 

The Coalition Against Terrorist Media was formed by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and brings together Muslim, Christian, Jewish and secular organizations to oppose the proliferation of terrorist controlled and operated media outlets.  CATM has worked with lawmakers, security officials, diplomats and private-sector executives in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  It has been instrumental in removing Hezbollah’s al-Manar television from eight satellite providers—ending much of al-Manar’s global distribution – as well as convincing several multinational corporations to end their advertising, denying the terrorist station over two million dollars in advertising revenues.  CATM worked closely with the Administration and Congress to encourage the Treasury Department to designate al-Manar as a terrorist organization.  For more information, please visit www.stopterroristmedia.org.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute focused exclusively on promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism.   Formed just weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks, FDD uniquely combines strategic communications, policy research, democracy and counterterrorism education, and investigative journalism in support of these goals.  For more information, please visit www.defenddemocracy.org.