Iran TV chief visit to the Netherlands cancelled

Ezatollah Zarghami

The invitation extended to the head of Iran’s national television network to visit Dutch TV network was cancelled amidst widespread protests by Iranian immigrants and reaction of Dutch parliament and media.

Ezatollah Zarghami and a panel from Seda va Sima Iranian television network were invited to visit NOS and NPO Dutch networks. Radio Zamaneh, which was informed of this invitation by a Dutch source who did not wish to be identified, immediately released the news on Tuesday, June 29.

The invitation which was extended for July 5, 2010 was arranged by the Dutch national television network and the Islamic Republic in The Hague in semi-secret fashion and consisted of a tour of the media facilities of the network in Hilversum.

Once the news was disseminated, Iranian and Dutch human rights activist protested the invitation and began organizing a demonstration for Monday July 5 which is now cancelled since Ezatollah Zarghami’s visit has been cancelled.

Iranian Progressive Youth Association issued a statement this week saying: “Seda va Sima of the Islamic Republic had a major role in covering up the suppression of protesters following the recent presidential elections and also matters concerning the arrest and torture of protesters…the Islamic Republic television network has refused to give air time to protesters and its director has been appointed by the Supreme leader who has had the largest role in the violent suppression of people…”

NOS has not responded to Radio Zamaneh’s requests for an interview but a NOS spokesperson has told NRC newspaper that this visit was organized as a learning process in the field of “independent news delivery.” NRC daily contends that NOS has cancelled the Iranian visit in fear of the parliament' reaction and the objections of Iranian community in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is home to 30 thousand Iranian immigrants many of whom left Iran in the late 1980s following the social and political unrest in Iran.