PressTV ban says West democracy fake

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/222336.html

Senior Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi says revoking Press TV's UK broadcasting license runs counter to Western claims of democracy and freedom of speech.

“Press TV has carried out its duty, but they [British officials] took a political and preferential approach [towards the news channel],” said the head of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.

The Iranian lawmaker condemned the British Office of Communications (Ofcom) for its blatant violation of freedom of speech by revoking Press TV's license for what it calls breaching the broadcasting code.

Earlier, Ofcom also hit Press TV with a fine of 100 thousand pounds. The British media regulator stepped up pressure on Press TV after the news channel covered British police crackdowns on anti-austerity protesters in London and other cities in the country.

Ofcom is said to have close ties with Britain's royal family. The cables released by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks show that Press TV's programs on the royal wedding, which many in the country describe as extravagant, has angered the royal family.

Boroujerdi added that visual media is obligated to cover significant events and developments and hence nothing can justify UK's unacceptable decision to take Press TV off air.

He concluded that such approaches prove that the West pretends dictatorships are democracies.