Second man dies after ISF siege as media ignores ban
Lebanon, Local, 9/24/1997

Pro-Hizbullah TV and radio stations in the Bekaa remained on the air on September 23, defying government warnings that it will shut down unlicensed audio-visual media by force, if necessary.

Meanwhile in the north, a supporter of Tawheed died of wounds he sustained on the 20th of September when security forces clashed with demonstrators trying to prevent the closure of the Islamic movement's television and radio stations.

Abdel Hadi Masri had been in a coma since being wounded in the head. Another Tawheed supporter was killed in the clash.

A supervisor of Zahle TV. Which will close today, said he wished there had been equality in the distribution of licenses, adding that implementation of the law should also be equal.

Bashaer TV in Tyre went off the air on September 23, but plans to resume broadcasting today despite the ban, a source said.

Sheikh Sobhi Toufaili's "Voice of the Resistance" and Hizbullah's unlicensed "Voice of the Oppressed" continued to broadcast despite warnings from the ISF.

The Voice of Beirut station's decision on September 22nd night to end transmission met the approval of politicians and religious figures.

Meanwhile, the military court indicted 48 people on September 23rd on charges of violence against the ISF in Tripoli's clashes on September 21st. Charges also included the wounding of three ISF personnel.

The 48 people under arrest include Bilal Shabaan and his brother, sons of Tawheed leader Sheikh Said Shabaan, who were detained earlier this week.

Defense lawyers, who volunteered from Islamic Inqaz, or the Salvation Association, to defend the accused will demand the court acquit them on the grounds that the closure was politically motivated. The accused will stand trial on September 24 in Beirut's military court, headed by Brig Zeid Halawi. Military Prosecutor Maysar Shokor has demanded that the guilty be sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

Previous Stories:
  Radio shutdowns continue, this time quietly   (9/23/1997)
  Demonstrator killed in Tripoli in showdown over media closure   (9/22/1997)

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