Homeland Security

DATE=12/17/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=US / HEZBOLLAH TV (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-321222

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

HEADLINE: US Adds Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV to Terror List

INTRO: The U.S. government has designated al-Manar TV a terrorist organization and says its programs incite violence. France has made a similar ruling after accusing the TV network of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group of anti-semitic and pro-violence commentaries. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Washington.

TEXT: State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says al-Manar TV has been placed on the department's terrorist list because its programs incite violence. He says it is a logical step, considering the U.S. government has already placed its parent organization Hezbollah, on the terrorist list.

/// BOUCHER ACT ///

"Their television arm, as anybody who watches it can tell you, serves to incite that kind of terrorist violence and therefore it's entirely logical if we view Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which it is, that their propaganda activities through this television should be barred. It's not a question of freedom of speech, it's a question of incitement to violence. And, we don't see why here or anywhere else (a) terrorist organization should be allowed to spread its hatred and violence through the television airwaves."

/// END ACT ///

Lebanon's ambassador to Washington has called the U.S. decision censorship.

State Department spokesman Boucher says placing al-Manar on the Terrorist Exclusion list means non-Americans associated with the television station, soliciting funds for al- Manar, or providing support for it will be barred from entering the United States. Those already in the country could be deported.

It is not clear if a private Iranian-language station based in California will be sanctioned for rebroadcasting al-Manar programs.

The U.S. action comes less than a week after France banned al-Manar from using a French satellite network for its European broadcasts. French authorities have accused the Hezbollah-backed T-V of anti-semitic programming that incites violence and hatred. (Signed)

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