Gary Fitleberg, September 7, 2004

Al Jazeera’s Baghdad operations were shut down by the Iraqi government indefinitely extending a one-month closure for inciting violence, according to the Associated Press.

The interim government’s Cabinet-level national security committee said in a statement that it decided to extend a suspension ordered August 5th because Al Jazeera failed to offer an explanation of its editorial policies.

"Based on this lack of respect for an official government order," the ban has been extended until Al Jazeera "sends an official response,’ the statement said.

Officials at Al Jazeera were outraged at the decision and issued a statement that it was "contrary to pledges made by the Iraqi authorities to pursue a policy of openness and to safeguard freedoms of press and expression."

Al Jazeera spokesman Jihad Ballout stated that the office in Baghdad was stormed by Iraqi security forces only hours before the order was announced.

According to police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, they were unaware of any raid on Al Jazeera’s Baghdad office.

An independent commission to monitor Al Jazeera’s daily broadcast coverage was convened by the government according to Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

The channel has been criticized for its coverage of the war in Iraq as well as airing "exclusive" audiotapes and videotapes of Al Qaeda warnings, purportedly from Osama bin Laden or his aides.

It is ironic and moronic for Al Jazeera to assert either Freedom of the Press or Freedom of Speech in a sea of Arab/Islamist state-controlled and dominated media.

Freedom of the Press is one expression of Al Jazeera’s broadcasts of hatred, incitement, terrorism and violence. Free speech is not hate speech. One can’t yell fire in a crowded room. A reasonable standard needs to be applied especially to mouthpieces for political propaganda.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg