Arab nations move to regulate satellite TV
ICC Note
“We don’t talk about politics or political leaders, and we don’t attack one religion or one denomination or another. Instead, we talk about Jesus. We feel strongly that, whatever the purpose of this regulation, we will stand out and hopefully will not be affected.”
19 February, 2008 Middle East (MNN) ― Arab satellite television channels face tighter restrictions on the content they broadcast. The charter, sponsored by Egypt and Saudi Arabia , calls on stations “not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols” of Arab countries.
When asked if SAT-7 could be targeted with this regulation, Harder could only say, “The simple answer is that we don’t know, but we hope not. How we might be affected would depend upon how tightly or loosely the law is interpreted.”
According to the document, channels should “refrain from broadcasting anything which calls into question God, the monotheistic religions, the prophets, sects or symbols of the various religious communities.” However, the ministry programming does “conform to the values of Arab society” because their programming represents the local minority Arab Christian community and its values.
Harder hopes that their focus will protect their ability to share Christ in the region. “We don’t talk about politics or political leaders, and we don’t attack one religion or one denomination or another. Instead, we talk about Jesus. We feel strongly that, whatever the purpose of this regulation, we will stand out and hopefully will not be affected.”
