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Wiesenthal Centre to French Prime Minister: "Prevent France Telecom's Complicity in Al-Manar Hizbollah Television's Antisemitic Broadcasts to Latin America and Asia

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Affairs, Dr Shimon Samuels, has protested to French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, regarding the broadcasts by France Telecom's affiliate, Globecast, of Al-Manar Hizbollah terrorist television. These programmes are distributed through the Spanish satellite Hispasat to Latin America, and through its counterpart Asiasat (with offices in Bermuda but based in Hong Kong), to the Far East.

Samuels noted that "in December 2004, France - through its Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel - banned the broadcasts of Al-Manar to Europe via the French Eutelsat due to their incitement to racism and antisemitism."

The Centre urged the Prime Minister "to take immediate measures to prevent Globecast of France Telecom - a state public corporation - from violating a French legal commitment."

Samuels concluded, "to permit Al-Manar Hizbollah television's continued distribution would make France Telecom complicit and co-accountable for any consequent attack on Jewish individuals or institutions across Latin America and Asia.

For further information, please contact Dr. Samuels at +33 6 09 77 01 58.