Israeli Satellite Channels – Inside Yemeni Hotels [Archives:1999/45/Reportage]
November 8 1999
Jalal Al-Shar’abi
Yemen Times
Involvement of TV satellites in world countries political conflict, has made the recipient an easy prey for them and the ideas they promote. While at the threshold of the 3rd millenium, it becomes difficult to presume that we can stand up to this torrent of information poured by the huge communication network whose modes of expression are no longer hindered by time and physical frontiers. Thus, the confrontation has become that of keeping race with this technology and upgrading our country’s mass media, more expressive of our people needs of freedom and honorable living and of satisfying their psychological and social needs proportionate to their religious doctrine.
It is really shocking to witness the extent of corruption and decay of manners and principles promoted inside some Yemeni hotels by the use of Israeli Satellite Channels for the sole objective of procuring more money. Those in charge in these hotels are heedless of the detrimental impact of the Israeli channels corrupt programs on their recipient lodges.
Yemen Times has conducted interviews with a number of jurists, Journalists and others. Galal Al-Sharabi of Yemen Times has conducted these interviews.
The first one who talked about this problem was Mr. Hussein Daif Allah Al-Awadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of News Agency (Sheba). He indicated that the advanced countries were trying by many means to attain a media invasion of the underdeveloped countries. These countries aim at corrupting the Islamic, national, and cultural values. They realize that they cannot conquer us by war, so they turn to this dangerous weapon with which they plan to achieve their purposes successfully.
Local information media should be aware of those people who have satellite dishes at homes. They have to be made aware of the danger of these receivers. We do not mean that they should give up these receivers, but there should be control and discipline conducted by parents.
The reason behind this problem is that there are no scientific symposia where people can spend their time, and take the advantage of these seminars. In this case, people are forced to sit and watch Television to see whatever programs they want. We have to develop our libraries and all cultural activities in order to keep the minds of people fresh. People have to pay more attention to this problem. They have to work and read books in order to fill their free time. We have to study the social and psychological effects of youths who stopped reading and turned to watch television. We have to save this group of people (youths).
Yahya Abdulraqeeb, Chairman of the Information Department in the Cabinet: “In fact these programs are one of the deteriorating factors which corrupt minds of the youth. I see that there must be a control by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Interior. In addition to this, I believe that the long leisure hours from which our Youth suffer is the main factor creating this problem and aggravates it in the society. If we look into this problem, we will find that people themselves are the cause of this problem because they go to hotels to watch these programs. At the same time, we have to find the substitute for this means. All people believe that there should be another thing to replace these channels. We have to join hands to put an end to this dangerous problem, which will affect the infrastructure of the Yemeni society”.
Yemen Times had also met Dr. Fareed Abdulkareem, a professor at the psychology department, Sana’a University, who illustrated some of the psychological problems of youth: “These channels do not intend to entertain people, but they intend to corrupt youths by broadcasting some programs to arouse sexual excitement of those youth. The other dangerous thing is that the Arab youth believe as they watch these channels that this is the real culture. They have curiosity to know everything because they do not fully know the Islamic and social values.
We all know that the Arab society has Islamic values difficult for those countries to overcome, but they turned to show these programs in which they intend to conquer minds of Arab youth.”If we look with a discerning eye at these channels, we find that we cannot prevent them. In this case, Arab Information has to play crucial roles to educate youth by broadcasting cultural programs.
Mr. Q. S., an owner of a hotel in Attahreer St. “Frankly, a lot of customers especially young people come to my hotel just to watch such channels as ‘Vinous.’ They ask about these channels before they ask about the rooms and prices for example. If we have these channels, they come and stay, but if we do not have them, they will not come. In addition to this, we have these channels in our hotel because of the big costs that we pay.”An owner of a hotel in Taiz St. says: “As we make available the service of these channels, it is easy for us to raise the price of a room. The youth ask about these channels before they pay any fees. He indicated that these receivers are supported by Israeli companies. For example the price of the receiver was YR 40,0000. Now, the price is only YR 3000 .”Mr. Ahmed Alawo, Manager of Al-Bonian Company For Advertising and Public Relations mentioned that these channels aim at corrupting the cultural identity of Arab society, and what is hapening at the Yemeni hotels is the mistake of the government and people.
Reliable resources at the Ministry of Information said that the law does not prevent programs like these because there are huge numbers of satellites in Sana’a and Aden and in most of the governorates.
Ali Al-Saqqaf, Managing Editor of Alwahdawi newspaper said that Israel launches defamation campaigns against Arab society. So the presence of these channels threaten our generations. The International Information aims at spreading globalization and American culture especially in Arab society, with the aim of corrupting Islamic values. We have to stand against these channels, and realize that our struggle with Israel will not come to an end.
Mr. Sultan Al-Borgi, director of Al-Borgi center for telecommunications sees that these channels are the main danger which threatens our Islamic values. Authorities should work to stop this danger.
Yemen Times conducted some interviews with jurists to gather more responses to this affair. Dr. Saleh Bin Yahya, professor in Qur’an interpretation in Sana’a university: “Now, we are witnessing giant developments in technology and information, we feel that the world is a small village. To judge on this matter, we cannot say that these channels are forbidden at all, but the forbiddance depends upon the programs that they broadcast. We can give permission to those channels which show Islamic programs.
If we watch these channels, we find that most of them are forbidden, especially those channels which broadcast from the foreign countries. Those countries which do not know what the meaning of Islam is. We, as Moslems, see that all of these channels are forbidden because they contradict our Islamic ideology. So’ as we judge on this matter, we have to turn to the Qur’an and Sunna. Now, we have to ask a question, who is responsible for this? What is the role of the country and people? Hence, I can say that all of us are responsible for these things. I urge each one to cooperate to change this practice. The father must not pay for a satellite for his sons, owners of the hotels should not offer this service at their hotels. We do not have to corrupt our behavior by our own hands. We have to perceive the purpose of those countries who aim at corrupting our values. If we are concerned about this, they can not conquer us by any means.
We, as Moslems, are responsible to stand against these dangers. In other words, we have to take the advantage of these new technologies through broadcasting and showing Islamic programs and the Arabic culture”.
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