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American Islamic Forum for Democracy president Zuhdi Jasser on the top EU satellite provider's broadcast ban on Iran.
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Now until -- today the country's supreme leader said the last quote won't bring Iran to its knees but it could -- the TV it turns out.
A top European satellite provider ended its contract with the runs broadcast company pulling nineteen Arabian state owned TV and radio channels right off the -- That'll fix some.
With me now is doctor -- -- Founder and president of the American Islamic form for democracy.
Welcome to our show I am that you -- part of that coalition -- board who did this elsewhere we where was that what was the impact.
Well in 2003 we got together with a coalition of against terrorist media that mark do with that started and we basically said -- -- -- TV which.
Was the Iranian arm of -- law.
Has beloved TV that was advertising for terrorism anti western anti Semitic speech in Europe.
We were able to get French satellites and others to cancel that -- not through mark's leadership we did that.
And it was very effective because.
This was a mechanism of radical rising Iranian expatriates and Muslims in Europe and elsewhere.
By watching -- -- -- which basically glorified suicide bombing.
And I think today's move by -- by the EU to a further cut off media is a significant body blow and sends a very clear message like we did back in 2004.
Does it further isolate the Iranians an end as it nicely the people -- does isolate the government.
I think it isolates the government the people.
You know that the good people the millions that we're in the green revolution in 2009.
I think need leadership from our White House to say that we got their back door behind them.
But the government needs to be isolated they're being isolated through monetary sanctions through.
Military sanctions and others and now we see the communication sanctions because their best asset on the ground when they want to threaten us through.
Terror acts or other things is the human assets of communication -- these nineteen stations that the EU -- -- removed.
Is part of their way to communicate with other Iranian assets they have in -- On the Internet now I mean isn't the way that see you know the whole Arab Spring got underway was on the Internet on FaceBook I mean that the so -- it may have an impact -- the TV stations but.
Everybody just moves right -- -- the Internet right they're not there already.
Absolutely -- that's that's the important part of this why it's much more symbolic.
Most of the Muslims I now have little.
Gizmos hooked up to their TV that allow -- to watch Internet TV and press TV and others.
That are coming from Iran will continue to stream and -- the threat ideologically is still there.
But symbolically.
You have the west telling them that you no longer have the freedom to spread your -- violent you're anti western conspiracy theories and gained economics remember the head of the IRB.
Up from Iran is on the sanction list.
And you know Russia by the way an ally of Iran just kicked out our radio free liberty folks kicked out USC ID.
So this is a tit for tat and I think we're sending a clear message.
That they or their ideas of radicalism remember the IRB mission is to spread the supremacy of the Islamic.
Steve I -- hearing hearsay and I wondered I asked this question every day does this particular action do anything to stop Iran from getting closer to having a nuclear bomb.
-- well I think obviously -- if we take the military issue off the table it does not.
I think they need to know that this is a step that may lead in a certain direction which were isolating them and they have to know that the military option military option is always on the table because.
These types of fascists these theocratic -- only respond to force knowing that if the optional forces never being removed from the table as prime minister Netanyahu and.
This -- this pressure and the economic pressure in the sanctions and everything -- -- I don't know but it doesn't push them closer to getting a -- -- they're getting angrier.
And they feel like it's their only response is it is there anyways back firing.
Well Melissa the last four years he Obama's vision of demonstrated that this soft pedaling diplomacy love leading from behind.
Actually emboldens them so -- I don't think there's that much evidence to show that a strong posturing.
Peace through strength that of approach would actually -- our effective I mean Syria has imploded.
Because of our inability to do anything allowing Iran.
And and Russia to basically allow -- to destroy that population without any impact from America doctor Jess our thanks for coming on.
