• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Iranian dissident banned from VOA for criticizing Tehran

Sep 11, 2014 9:17 am By Robert Spencer

Majid_mohammadiThe VOA then backtracked and removed the ban, and is trying to shed its reputation as a mouthpiece of the mullahs. But how did it get that reputation in the first place? Who was asleep at the switch or politically correct and blinkered enough to allow the Voice of America to become the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran?

The Voice of America was founded during the Cold War to be a voice for…America. But in recent years it has become yet another dreary Leftist organ for Islamic supremacists, and not just the Iranians, either. In a sane society it would have been subjected to a massive housecleaning or shut down altogether.

“Iranian Dissident Banned from VOA for Criticizing Tehran,” by Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, September 11, 2014:

An Iranian expert and regime opponent was temporarily banned from appearing on Voice of America’s Persian language news station after he compared the regime to a terror group during a recent appearance on the taxpayer-funded network, according to multiple officials at VOA, the nation’s leading pro-democracy broadcaster.

The incident is merely the latest in the long string of public controversies over the government-funded network’s pro-Iranian bent and is said to reflect a growing rift within the network between entrenched pro-Iran voices and those trying to repair this bias.

Majid Mohammadi, an Iranian-American academic and critic of Tehran’s hardline regime, was interviewed over the weekend on VOA’s Persian language station and compared the Islamic Republic to the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS).

Congressional appropriators and former employees have long raised concerns about the network, which has been referred to by critics in the past as “the voice of the mullahs.”

Mahammadi later claimed that following his appearance he was informed by network officials that the station’s editor, Mohammad Manzarpour, had put the longtime contributor on a “black list” and that he is no longer welcome to appear on any VOA Persian programs.

Following the incident, Mohammadi contacted by letter the VOA’s government overseer, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), to inform it of what had taken place, according to sources aware of the situation.

“After the program I was called and one of the staff members of PNN (Mr. Homan Bakhtiar) told me that Mr. Mohammad Manzarpour, the editor, has put me in the black list and PNN will no longer contact me for providing my expertise on Middle East issues in VOA Persian programs,” he wrote in the letter to the BBG.

Mohammadi, who fled Iran over a decade ago, explained in the letter that his comments were meant to elucidate the relationship between Iran and ISIL and show that both employ a similar radical ideological and strategy to dominate the region.

Mohammadi asked BBG officials to explain why a pro-democracy station with a congressional mandate to spread America’s message would employ such heavy-handed tactics reminiscent of the Iranian regime’s despotic efforts to block negative publicity.

“As a citizen of the U.S. and a taxpayer who fled Iran 14 years ago due to being prosecuted by the Islamic Republic for my writings, deprived of teaching in universities, and being harassed by the Ministry of Intelligence, I want to know if Mr. Manzarpour is entitled to put me in the black list after 7 years of working with VOA Persian just for expressing my educated analysis,” he wrote. “Do the editors of VOA have the right to make a black list of potential analysts? Do you think this is something that belongs to the authoritarian governments and brought as a baggage to the land of freedom?”

VOA confirmed that Mohammadi was initially banned by the station when contacted Wednesday by the Washington Free Beacon. The ban was reversed as soon as network heads learned of it, according to a VOA spokesman.

“A staffer without any authority did say he was banned,” the VOA spokesman confirmed, adding that the ban was quickly overturned when higher-level officials were informed about the situation.

Setareh Derakhshesh, director of the Voice of America’s Persian Service, told the Free Beacon that there was “some kind of misunderstanding” between Mohammadi and the station.

VOA offered to have Mohammadi on the station again this Friday, but he declined the offer, saying that he would only appear if the network allows him to address what happened.

“I cannot participate in the program if I am not allowed to explain what has happened,” Mohammadi wrote late Wedsnesday to Derakhshesh, according to a copy of the correspondence obtained by the Free Beacon. “This is not about me; it is about the principles and values of this beloved country. This is a crucial moment to explain to the PNN audience that this incidence happened and the people in charge were able to handle it in the right way.”

Asked about the existence of a “black list” at the network, Derakhshesh denied one exists.

“There is no black list,” she said. “I don’t even know where the word came from.”

“There must have been a misunderstanding” between Mohammadi and the network officials, she said. “We have never banned anybody” in the history of the network.

Derakhshesh further maintained that the network does all it can to ensure objectivity and present all sides of the story when it comes to Iran.

“That’s how we do it, all opinions must be reflected and are reflected,” she said.

Hassan Dai, an Iranian dissident who has appeared on VOA Persian in the past, said the network “has gradually become a mouthpiece for pro-Tehran appeasers.”

Dai claimed that the network only features anti-regime voices a small percentage of the time.

“They have the policy of 10 percent and 90 percent– mean[ing they] give 10 percent of air to the real opposition and 90 percent to appeasers. This way, no one can accuse VOA of excluding opposing views,” Dai said.

VOA Persian, formerly called the Persian News Network (PNN), has long been engulfed in controversy and received criticism from Congress for toeing the Iranian government’s line.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) enumerated many of these concerns several years ago in a series of questions to BBG officials.

“Frequently, the Persian News Network has been accused of being soft on the Iranian government, including being labeled ‘the voice of the mullahs,’” Coburn wrote in his list of questions.

Coburn also expressed concern that the network defers to pro-Iran voices and presents anti-American viewpoints, the Washington Times reported at the time.

Derakhshesh admitted that the network has struggled at times to escape its reputation as a pro-Iran mouthpiece and said it is working hard to rectify any appearance of bias.

“We are very well aware [of the issues] that VOA Persian had,” she said. “We have actually rebranded” in recent years and are “aware of the bad press and infighting and the one sidedness.”

However, VOA Persian has “turned a corner and made changes,” she said. “We still have a long way to go but we know we are improving.”

“It will take time, it has to be gradual,” she added, “but VOA has turned the corner.”

I very seriously doubt it.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: dhimmitude, Iran, United States Tagged With: featured


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. mortimer says

    Sep 11, 2014 at 10:48 am

    “…it is about the principles and values of this beloved country.”

    Exactly, Voice of America should be the voice of credible, FACTUAL analysis, rather than emotional propaganda.

    The repulsive facts about the Iranian mullahocracy speak for themselves.

    • mariam rove says

      Sep 11, 2014 at 11:00 am

      But guess what? VOA will have no problem bringing in Reza Aslan to speak. M

  2. sujith says

    Sep 11, 2014 at 11:00 am

    EVER heard of a more lunatic govt ?

    Obama wants to send $500 Million to fund ISIS and their syrian friends…..
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-Congress-may-soon-vote-to-arm-train-Syria-rebels/articleshow/42210452.cms

  3. john spielman says

    Sep 11, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    who could be behind such a ridiculous decision to bar this man from VOA,…. COULD IT BE… Satan… I mean Obama?

  4. dumbledoresarmy says

    Sep 11, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    IF VOA really knew what they were doing, they would invite Persian Christian Daniel Shayesteh – ex-Muslim, author of “Exodus from Darkness” – to be a guest on their programs; they would give him a regular spot.

  5. dumbledoresarmy says

    Sep 11, 2014 at 11:22 pm

    Openly-declared ethnically-Persian apostates from Islam from amongst the Persian diaspora, together with non-dhimmi representatives of the non-islamic minorities within Iran – the Jews, the Zoroastrians, the Christians – should be given a platform on VOA (Persian) to discuss and critique the classically-Islamic abuse of ex-Muslims and of non-Muslims that is par for the course in Islamic Iran. No. holds. barred.

    It’s time for a non-dhimmi approach.

    Hit them between the eyes with the truth.

    And invite scholars of dhimmitude, such as Bat Yeor and Mark Durie, to be interviewed, and to discuss, specifically, the history of the oppression and abuse of non-Muslims within Islamic Iran.

    There should also be in-depth discussion of Iran’s *pre-Islamic* culture and history, so as to be able to show just how much damage – psychological and cultural – has been inflicted by centuries of Islam.

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • Walter Sieruk on Iranian top dogs approve bill to end UN nuclear inspections, increase enrichment
  • Dude on Muslim cleric: ‘We welcomed the takeover of ISIS because they wanted to implement the Sharia’
  • Infidel on Uighur leader: ‘We’re actually quite worried’ about what Biden might let China get away with
  • Infidel on Uighur leader: ‘We’re actually quite worried’ about what Biden might let China get away with
  • Mojdeh on Audio: Robert Spencer on Muslim Brotherhood influence in a Biden/Harris administration

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.