Al-Hiwar
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Arabic |
| Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| History | |
| Launched | January 1, 2006 |
| Links | |
| Website | alhiwar.tv (Arabic) |
AlHiwar (Arabic: الحوار) is an Arabic language satellite TV channel broadcasting from London.[1]
AlHiwar (meaning "Dialogue" in Arabic) presents a set of talk-show and analysis-style TV programs, dealing with political, social and economic issues related to the Arab citizen, as well as issues related to migrants' lives and Muslim communities in the West. It also aims to highlight the value of dialogue.
History[edit]
Al-Hiwar was founded in 2006; its founding managing editor is Azzam Al-Tamimi, a longtime Muslim Brotherhood member and supporter of Palestinian resistance group Hamas.[2][3]
Journalists for Al-Hiwar were targeted by hackers affiliated with Project Raven, a UAE initiative. Their cell phones were hacked on the day the Qatar diplomatic crisis began in 2017. According to Tamimi, he believed Al-Hiwar was targeted because the UAE was fearful of Al-Hiwar's "support for political reform and democratization in the Arab world."[3]
Its goals[edit]
AlHiwar is an Arab media service that seeks to contribute to building a better tomorrow for Arab societies. The TV channel reflects the importance of dialogue between individuals and societies as a basic means of communication, understanding and building bridges of understanding.
Al-Hiwar is sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Tamimi describes as victims.[3]
Its vision[edit]
According to AlHiwar Facebook page, the TV channel is an Arab media service that seeks to contribute to building a better tomorrow for Arab societies. It is the voice of Arabs in the diaspora, a bridge of communication between Arabs and other peoples and cultures, and a platform for promoting the values of tolerance, democracy and respect for freedoms and human rights.
It is a means of communication between Arabic speakers everywhere. It also raises the slogan that dialogue has endless dimensions, as it is required between the different generations, societies, individuals, politicians and societies.
AlHiwar is concerned with the interaction between the Arab communities in the diaspora in order to better address the concerns and difficulties they face in the diaspora. It is a means of integrating the Arab communities within their new societies in an active and positive manner without blurring their original identity and values.
AlHiwar is an Arabic-language television channel, as it is directed to Arabs, whether in the Arab world or in the diaspora. It is a means of convergence of opinions based on reviewing what is presented, with the aim of discovering others within the principle of coexistence in the Arab world.
It is a tool for communication between Arabs and their new societies to introduce their cultural values, to activate their positive role in public life in their new homes, and to serve the aspirations of the Arab peoples in building positive relations with these societies and creating a greater understanding of Arab issues.
It is also a platform for interaction between the Arab communities and their motherland, helping them contribute to construction, reform, development, positive transfer of expertise and experiences, and change for the better. It is an Arabic-language television channel, meaning that most of its programs are in Arabic.
Programs[edit]
- Revisions (Arabic: مراجعات)
Is a series of dialogues in which Dr. Azzam Al-Tamimi hosts a group of Arab figures from different political backgrounds, where they shed light on their contributions to major events witnessed by the Arab and Islamic world and share their experience.
- Highlights of Events (Arabic: أضواء على الأحداث)
Is a daily TV program that analyses the most important Arab and international events. It hosts experts and analysts from different regions of the world who go deeper into the news and developments. It mainly focuses on issues related to the Arab citizen, including economic, political and social issues.
- The Free Opinion (Arabic: الرأي الحر)
Is a daily 2-hour interactive program. It provides the viewer with a platform to express his opinion on current issues that concern the daily life of the Arab citizen.
- London Dialogue (Arabic: حوار لندن)
Is an interactive weekly program which has no presenter, but different attendees, who discuss the most important issues that have passed over the week, in an open and interactive manner that makes the discussion move swiftly between the guests without prior preparation.
Al Hiwar’s registered address is in the Westgate House which has been accused of serving as a hub for Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas operations in Western Europe.[4]
Censorship attempts[edit]
The TV station was the target of several censorship attempts; in May 2009, it was taken off Hotbird after repeated and deliberate jamming of its signals. This happened while the channel was airing interviews with exiled Libyan opposition leaders.[5]
Egypt
Al-Hiwar was unexpectedly taken off Egyptian-owned satellite operator Nilesat in April 2008. This move came just weeks after the signing of the so-called "Principles for Regulating Satellite TV in the Arab World" which was adopted unanimously by the Arab League during a meeting in Cairo on February 12, 2008. However, the Egyptian authorities and Nilesat denied that the new charter on Arab media had anything to do with this.[2][6][7]
The United Arab Emirates
In June 2008, Emirati authorities seized tapes and recordings of Al-Hiwar journalists in Dubai Airport, who were leaving for London after they had filmed an episode of "Khaleeji Dimensions" that deals with the national identity in the United Arab Emirates. The material seized was later sent to Al-Hiwar headquarters in London and the original airing schedule for the episode was postponed.[8]
Broadcasting[edit]
High-definition (HD) broadcasting was started in January 2017 via satellite using Hot Bird 13B and in October 2018 (HD) started on Nilesat.
References[edit]
- ^ Al Hiwar. "About us". Al-Hiwar. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ a b Jaafar, Ali (11 April 2008). "Nilesat takes Al-Hiwar off the air". Variety. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ a b c Schectman, Joel (2019-04-01). "Special Report: U.S. hackers helped UAE spy on Al Jazeera chairman, BBC host". Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "How the Muslim Brotherhood fits into a network of extremism".
- ^ "UK-based Al-Hiwar satellite TV off-air after 'deliberate jamming' - paper". BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ Yom As-sabea (3 April 2008). "وقف بث قناة "الحوار".. أولى ثمار وثيقة تنظيم الفضائيات". Youm7 (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ "تشويش فضائي متكرر يتسبب في وقف بث قناة الحوار". marebpress.net (in Arabic). 8 May 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ "الإمارات تصادر أشرطة حلقات برنامج "أبعاد خليجية" لعدة أيام قبل أن تعيدها". gohod.net. June 6, 2008. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2011.