Al Jazeera has asked the CRTC to release its Arab-language channel from controls put in to prevent the spread of hate speech, claiming that the burden of closely monitoring the channel’s programming has kept cable and satellite operators from offering it to viewers.
The network — which also operates Al Jazeera English, a channel that has aired in Canada since 2010 — wants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to amend a decade-old ruling it says has kept the Arabic service off the air.
The CRTC approved Al Jazeera Arabic for distribution in 2004 on the condition that television distributors edit out hate speech or images from the controversial channel. The Doha, Qatar-based network faced intense opposition, due to its reputation for programming believed to be anti-Semitic and anti-Western, and for airing videos featuring Al-Qaeda figures, including propaganda videos of hostages kidnapped by Islamist militants. No Canadian cable or satellite providers have picked up the network since then.
The CRTC has called for comments on the application by March 17 and two Jewish groups that intervened when the service first sought Canadian distribution are now again considering their position on the network.
The network — which also operates Al Jazeera English, a channel that has aired in Canada since 2010 — wants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to amend a decade-old ruling it says has kept the Arabic service off the air.
The CRTC approved Al Jazeera Arabic for distribution in 2004 on the condition that television distributors edit out hate speech or images from the controversial channel. The Doha, Qatar-based network faced intense opposition, due to its reputation for programming believed to be anti-Semitic and anti-Western, and for airing videos featuring Al-Qaeda figures, including propaganda videos of hostages kidnapped by Islamist militants. No Canadian cable or satellite providers have picked up the network since then.
The CRTC has called for comments on the application by March 17 and two Jewish groups that intervened when the service first sought Canadian distribution are now again considering their position on the network.
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