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Definition of Satellite TV

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It’s a television broadcasting system which transmits signals via satellites, no need to use neither cable nor local stations. Thanks to satellite TV, users have the opportunity to watch any satellite channel just with a few inexpensive products like a satellite dish and a receiver software and hardware.[1] This simplicity also allows you watching channels which are not provided by any TV broadcaster in your country or city.

On the other hand it’s possible to benefit from this feature to watch the channels which are illegal according to user’s own country’s laws.

Definition of Terrorism

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Although there is no strict worldwide commonly accepted definition, there are some popular ones. The definition of the word of terrorism in the Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics (2nd edition) says: Term with no agreement amongst government or academic analysts, but almost invariably used in a pejorative sense, most frequently to describe life-threatening actions perpetrated by politically motivated self-appointed sub-state groups.

Satellite TV and Terrorism

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Today, Satellite TV is one of the popular gadgets of terrorist organizations. Satellite TV technology has been used by terrorist organizations to make terrorist propaganda, to advocate terrorist acts and leaders and to organize riots in some problematic regions.

The reason which makes satellite TV so popular for terrorism propaganda is that while their broadcast can being considered as a freedom of speech in where they broadcast from, it may be found illegal and faced with being shut down in the region or country that they broadcast to. To understand this definition, please see the example cases below.

The Case of ROJ TV

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Roj TV is a satellite TV channel which broadcasts from Denmark. It broadcasts in Turkish and different dialects of Kurdish, aiming both Kurds and Turks living in alleged Kurdistan which is the area of South East Turkey and Northern Iraq. Sattelite TV dishes on the roofs and balconies can easily be recognized in South East Turkey cities.


Turkish government claims that ROJ TV is an unofficial promotion channel of PKK which is a terrorist organization according to the terrorist organizations list accepted by EU.[2] Turkish thesis takes attention to some points on ROJ TV broadcast like the definition of PKK militants as guerillas, definition of Turkish Army as an occupier in alleged Kurdistan lands, definition of PKK leaders as the leaders of the people who has Kurdish ethnicity and some phone conversations on the channel connecting to PKK leaders allowing them to advocate themselves or to thread Turkish Government. [3] With these points Turkey has filed a case in Denmark but it has ended with the decision of ROJ TV broadcasts are under freedom of speech measures, meaning it’s legal.

However, Turkey has filed another case with the new proves which shows it’s exactly the same channel with its past examples Med TV and Medya TV pointing most of the workers of the channel haven’t been changed, equipments and some propaganda films are still same on both of those channels. [4]

Before ROJ TV, Med TV was broadcasting from UK and some studios in Belgium since 1995. As a result of cases filed by Turkish Government; it has been shut down in 1999 by found illegal. After Med TV, just another satellite TV channel Medya TV has been launched in France but its broadcasting license has been cancelled by French government in 2004 being found it’s the same channel with Med TV. [5]

Turkey also shows the affirmations of arrested PKK terrorists which says they had done some of their terrorist acts thanks to the help of ROJ TV. [6] Moreover, a telephone record that used as a proof in another case which has filed in Germany, in 6 September 2005, against Özgür Politika (Free Policy) Newspaper and Mezopotanya (Mesopotamia) News Agency, show that how ROJ TV is connected to these two other media organs [7] and how they get orders from Murat Karayılan, a man who is the alleged leader of KONGRAGEL-social wing of PKK and the 2nd important one after Abdullah Öcalan.

Lastly, president of general staff in Turkey, full general Yaşar Büyükanıt, has blamed Denmark helping terrorists as a NATO and a EU member country. He has also said that “it’s not only a propaganda channel, it’s also a communication way. By the time Turkish army make a movement in the region, they cut the current programme and give this movement as a hot news” he said. [8]

In Turkey, people in a doubt with "are the Danish really naive which can insist on to see this as a freedom of speech" or "are they actually willing to host terror against another country". A Turkish specialist warns Denmark giving an example from the close history saying; “French government has supported ASALA, an Armenian Terrorist group against Turkey, till their citizens become a target too in Paris Orly Airport bombing in 1983. [9] “Are the Danish waiting to experience terror in their lands to wake up?” he says. [10]

Meanwhile, US have warned Denmark giving a diplomatic note to shut down not only ROJ TV but also Mezopotanya TV and MBMG. This request has been found shameless by the Socialist Public Party in Denmark. [11]

On the other hand, in Turkey, 52 town mayors from DTP have sent letters to the president of Denmark, Rasmussen to keep the ROJ TV, against Turkish and American requests. DTP is a political party which is known with its close relations with PKK. After a short time, those 52 mayors have started to be judged by Turkey from the crime of supporting a media organ which promotes terrorism. The case has been qualified as a shame for a country on the doorstep of EU by Rasmussen. [12]

In short, ROJ TV case is a current example of the relationship between satellite TV end terrorism. This case shows not only how efficient it is to promote terrorism but also that it can create unexpected problems between two legal countries because of their different tolerance measurements on their laws which were planned to prevent their different problems.

Case of Al Manar TV

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Al Manar is just another current example of the relationship between terrorism and Satellite TV. It has launched by Hezbollah in 1991 which is another terrorist organization according to the list of terrorist organizations accepted by EU.[13] It has 10-15 Million viewers daily worldwide.[14] Although it has banned from many providers, today, it still broadcast on 3 different satellites. [15]

During the 2006 Lebanon War, it was one of the first targets of Israeli Air Forces which was bombed. However, it has continued to its broadcast from unknown studios only a short time after bombing. [16]

The TV channel clearly promotes terrorism giving Hassan Nasrallah’s opinions to convince Arab World that it’s easy to destroy Israel.[17] It also organize campaigns to collect donation for Hezbollah and announces list of the pro-Hezbollah demonstrations taking place around the world.[18]

Al Manar has been banned in US because of its strong intenses to promote terrorism. [19][20] It’s broadcast agreement for Hot Bird 4 satellite has been cancelled by French Government as well. By being banned from a group of Spanish satellites Hispasat, it becomes impossible to watch it not only in the Iberian Peninsula but also in South America.[21] Also Australian TARBS world TV has cancelled to broadcast it by its own decision as well.[22]

Al Manar advocates itself claiming they’re representing the victim’s voice. They claim that bans against them are just caused from political decisions away from justice. Al Manar does not aim to be neutral, but instead tries to broadcast in support of a partisan approach to today's news.[23]

Case of Al Jazeera

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Apart from Al Manar and Roj TV, today one Doha, Qatar based satellite TV channel, Al Jazeera is considered one of the top favorite companies of the world according to Brandchannel readers' choices. [24]

Undoubtfully, Al Jazeraa became so much popular during September 11, 2001 attacks, when it broadcast video statements of Osama bin Laden and some other al-Qaeda leaders. Especially in western societies, being able to see the most hated figures' messages on their TVs make many people to consider Al Jazeera as the mouthpiece of Al Qaeda.

However, according to Hugh Miles, who is a columnist at Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera has not supported any attack or promoted any violence against coalition forces in Iraq or showed any attack against them live, which means it's imaginary to claim Al Jazeera knows all the terrorist attacks beforehand thanks to its strong relationships with radical Islamic terrorists.

He also states that Al Jazeera is just making what it says on its motto, “The opinion and the other opinion”, giving each part's opinions as objective. [25]

On the other hand, although it has given a lot of different parts' ideas in its "The Opposite Direction" and "The Other Opinion" programmes, it's pretty much interesting that it hasn't made any interview with Qatari political dissidents who oppose the monarchy. Because of it takes about 100 million $ help from Qatari government each year, it seems impossible to see any opinion opposite to Qatari Government for the next years too. [26]

The reason which makes Al Jazeera different than other direct terrorist related channels is may also be that it doesn't describe terrorists as guerillas nor coalition forces as occupiers. It just brings the opinions of both parts to the screen in conflicts.

Discussion

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In conclusion, being able to broadcast from untouchable lands thanks to sattelite TV technology had come with the opportunity to promote terrorists' ideas and to provoke radical movements.

On the other hand it has forced to governments to change their laws, current executions. For example, raise of independent Arab Media had forced US to support Al-Hurra channel which mostly promotes American policies. In Turkey, Kurdish language became free and in last 2 years many singer has launched their Kurdish song albums as well. On the ther hand Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, has started Kurdish news, documentaries etc. in the same schedule with the other foreign language programmes. Moreover, ironically, during the Med TV; Turkey has supported Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq's TV network KTV to broadcast in pro-Turkish style in Kurdish language. [27]

Wafa Sultan who is a secular psychologist of Syrian-American origin, has become so popular thanks to Al Jazeera. [28] Probably thanks to her speechs many radical Islamist had questioned themselves and changed their minds. On the other hand, Bin Laden has become one of the most popular terrorist ever born too. Western people has found the opportunity to learn the ideas which lays behind the terrorism's dirty face different than that they used to see only on their national channels before. [29]

From these exapmles and discussion, it's possible to claim that Al Manar, Roj TV, Med TV and Medya TV are the direct terrorist supporter channels; Al Jazeera is a kind of advocate of change on usual media concept; and the others in this article are the just followers of usual policies respecting and observing every legal states' status.

However, while many people being inspired to attend terrorist acts and organizations by these channels,[30] at least for terrorist supporter channels, it's hard to tell that keeping channels live is a kind of freedom of speech.

Fighting against terrorism is a hard work which needs contribution of all countries and organizations. Humankind's motivation to use violence may differ from land to land, according to his religion, ethnicity, nationality, education level, parents; all of his environement in short. So while prepairing laws, governments; and while judging the cases related with terrorism of another country, courts, should take into consideration the characteristics of the people living in that region and the backround of the problems related with that subject.

Notes

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  1. ^ http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/satellite-tv.htm
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_organisations
  3. ^ http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=22881
  4. ^ http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=4164440&tarih=2006-03-29
  5. ^ http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=106062
  6. ^ http://www.info-turc.org/article2454.html
  7. ^ http://www.info-turc.org/article2454.html
  8. ^ http://www.gazetemetropol.com/gundem.asp?detay=oku&hid=2025
  9. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260
  10. ^ http://www.turkishweekly.net/baris.php?id=151
  11. ^ http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/3542775.asp?m=1&gid=69
  12. ^ http://www.haberss.com/haber_devam.php?id=522616; http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/355858.asp; http://www.abhaber.com/haber_sayfasi.asp?id=12179
  13. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_organisations
  14. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/23/hezbollah.tv/index.html
  15. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5217484.stm
  16. ^ http://www.newssafety.com/hotspots/countries/lebanon/alertnet/lebanon160706.htm
  17. ^ Ibid. Pg. 80-81 and pg. 83
  18. ^ Ibid. Pg. 105.
  19. ^ Reuters, December 18, 2004 U.S. designates al-Manar TV as 'terrorist' Accessed August 1, 2006
  20. ^ Aljazeera.net, December 17, 2004 US designates al-Manar TV 'terrorist' Accessed August 1, 2006
  21. ^ Commission of the European Communities Commission document SEC(2006) 160 Accessed July 31, 2006
  22. ^ ABA News Release NR 135/2004 22 October 2004 ABA investigation into Al Manar programming on TARBS Accessed August 15, 2006
  23. ^ Jeffrey Goldberg (October 14, 2002). "A Reporter At Large: In The Party Of God (Part I)". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2007-03-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ http://www.brandchannel.com/boty_results/global_2004.html, http://www.brandchannel.com/boty_results/global_list.asp
  25. ^ http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3497
  26. ^ http://www.meib.org/articles/0006_me2.htm
  27. ^ KDP Launches Anti-PKK TV Station”, (trn. by Arm the Spirit), Kurdistan - Rundbrief, 3, 1999.
  28. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WLoasfOLpQ
  29. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dls5JTD-uG0
  30. ^ http://www.turkishweekly.net/turkçe/makale.php?id=82
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