Al-Manar Says Nilesat’s Ban is ’Political’

Local Editor

In a sudden move, Egyptian satellite provider Nilesat stopped airing the Lebanese al-Manar channel following similar moves targeting Lebanon by Saudi Arabia and its allies.

Taking the measure on Tuesday, Nilesat alleged that al-Manar had "violated the contract by broadcasting shows that provoke sectarian strife and sedition."

The company is also to stop its operations in Lebanon as of Wednesday when its contract expires.

It also sent a statement to inform the Lebanese Ministry of Communications that it will stop the broadcast from Jouret al-Ballout transmitter station starting from Wednesday 10:00 a.m. due to the expiry of the contract signed with the Lebanese Republic in 2015.

The cut came ahead of a planned visit by Saudi King Salman to Egypt, which operates the Nilesat satellite.

"This is a political decision, not an industry decision. Al-Manar has nothing to do with sectarian strife," he was quoted as saying by AFP.

Saudi-based satellite provider Arabsat had stopped broadcasting al-Manar in December 2015, a month after it took al-Mayadeen TV, another Lebanon-based channel, off air.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team