UANI Calls on Arqiva to End Facilitation of Human Rights Abuses by the Iranian Regime, Cease Broadcast of Iranian State-Owned IRIB

   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Calls on Arqiva to End Facilitation of Human Rights Abuses by the Iranian Regime, Cease Broadcast of Iranian State-Owned IRIB New York, NY - On Monday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on the British telecommunications company Arqiva to stop broadcasting and transmitting the Iranian regime's state-owned networks, and cut all of its ties to Iran. Arqiva facilitates broadcasts of the regime-controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), as well as foreign-language channels such as the English PressTV and the Arabic Al-Alam. The regime is widely known to broadcast its propaganda throughout Iran and abroad, while illegally jamming the broadcasts of networks like BBC Persian and VOA Persian within its own borders. UANI has been corresponding with Arqiva over the past months, regarding the harmful role Arqiva plays in transmitting the Iranian regime's propaganda worldwide. In a May 3, 2012 letter to Arqiva, UANI highlighted Arqiva's support of the regime's serious human rights abuses through the provision of broadcast and transmission services to IRIB. IRIB, the regime's principal propaganda tool against peaceful activists, has been used to broadcast televised "show trials" as well as the interrogation and coerced statements of citizens unjustly imprisoned and tortured by the regime. Arqiva entered into discussions with UANI, yet so far has not shown a commitment to halting its work in Iran. In a recent letter to Arqiva CEO John Cresswell, sent May 30, UANI President, Ambassador Kristen Silverberg, wrote:    UANI rejects the assertion that "there is nothing in the sanctions regimes which is inconsistent" with Arqiva's behavior and business activities in Iran. As we noted in our previous letter, The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010 ("CISADA") requires the U.S. to ban the "procurement of goods or services with a person that exports sensitive technology" to Iran including any technology that is used "(A) to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Iran; or (B) to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of Iran." This language on its face precludes U.S. government contracting with any company like Arqiva that broadcasts forced confessions by dissidents arrested for criticizing the regime... Arqiva should also be aware of new U.S. legislation directly addressing the issue raised by your continued cooperation with the Iranian government. **** Moreover, we would ask that you specifically address not only Arqiva's legal responsibilities, but your understanding of Arqiva's moral responsibilities as well. By facilitating IRIB's broadcast of libelous programs and hate speech against religious minorities, forced confessions of peaceful dissidents and civil society activists and "show trials" of political prisoners, Arqiva is serving to further the Iranian regime's campaign of persecution and repression against its own citizens. These actions are contrary to the position of the leadership of the U.K. government and sentiment of the British people as they relate to opposing human rights abuses in Iran and are contrary to your company's commitment to act "fairly and ethically wherever we do business." Should Arqiva be sanctioned under any of the provisions described above, the company would face not only the potential for economic harm, but possibly irreparable reputational harm in both the U.S. and Europe. As part of its "Tech and Telecom Campaign," UANI has succeeded in curtailing the business of international telecom giants such as Adaptive Mobile, Huawei, Nokia Siemens Networks and ZTE in Iran. UANI launched the campaign in 2011 to highlight the practices of international firms that provide the Iranian regime with sensitive technology and telecommunications equipment that the regime uses to facilitate its suppression of citizens. Click here to read UANI's full May 30 letter to Arqiva. Click here to read UANI's May 3 letter to Arqiva. Click here to send a message to Arqiva. ###                                                                          United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.

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