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17 December 2004

United States Adds Al-Manar TV Network to Terrorism List

State Department says programming promotes violence, hatred

Washington -- The United States has designated the al-Manar global satellite television network owned and operated by Lebanon-based Hizballah, a terrorist organization.

The State Department said on December 17 that adding al-Manar to the Terrorist Exclusion List means any persons who provide support might be denied entry into the United States or face deportation. Hizballah is already listed on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list by the State Department.

According to the State Department, the television network also receives some funding from Iran. The department's report "Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003" cites Iran as the most active state sponsor of international terrorism.

The Department of State condemned al-Manar broadcasts on December 9 when deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said it airs "disgusting programming that preaches violence and hatred" and ideas antithetical to American values.

France's Council of State ordered Eutelsat, the Paris-based satellite company, to stop broadcasts of al-Manar within 48 hours on December 13, ruling that the channel has violated laws against inciting racial hatred. The move was welcomed by the United States.

Under the USA Patriot Act, the secretary of state, in consultation with the attorney general, is authorized to designate terrorist organizations for immigration purposes. Persons who provide support to or associate with organizations on the Terrorist Exclusion List may be denied entry to the United States, or deported if they are already in the United States. The law states that the secretary may designate an organization that "commits or incites to commit, under circumstances indicating an intention to cause death or serious bodily injury, a terrorist activity."

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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