(Adds hacking of opposition Web sites in third paragraph and last three.)
Source: Ali Sheikholeslami, Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) —
The British Broadcasting Corp., Voice of America and Deutsche Welle condemned Iran for blocking broadcasts from abroad as it sought to suppress protests on yesterday’s anniversary of the Islamic regime.The “deliberate act of jamming” contravenes international broadcasting agreements, the three media organizations said in a joint statement sent by e-mail today. They called on satellite operators and international regulators to “put pressure on Iran to stop this activity.”
Iran closed down Google Inc.’s Gmail service and other communication channels, and security forces attacked protesters who used the celebrations as a platform for anti-government demonstrations. Today, Web sites that reported the clashes were hacked. The protests started after the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June, which opponents say was rigged.
Iran, which is resisting pressure from the U.S. and other western countries to halt its nuclear program, accuses them of using the media to foment unrest and destabilize Iran. General Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of military staff, said this week that media such as the BBC and VOA are the “command room” for a “soft coup” against Iran’s clerical rulers.