Iran blocks BBC over Egypt coverage
By IANSFriday, February 11, 2011
LONDON - British broadcaster BBC said Iranian authorities were blocking its Persian language television for showing news related to the mass protests in Egypt.
The interference began Thursday evening after the BBC’s Iranian service broadcast extensive coverage about the continuing demonstrations against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Telegraph reported Friday.
Egypt has seen massive anti-government protests since Jan 25 aimed at ousting Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt since 1981.
“It is believed that it is the impact of this coverage which has prompted the jamming,” the BBC said in a statement. “Satellite technicians have traced that interference and have confirmed it is coming from Iran.”
The BBC said it suspected the Iranian authorities may have acted after an interactive television show allowed Iranian and Egyptian viewers to share their views on the crisis.
BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks said: “This jamming should stop immediately.”
