Al-Manar TV hailed on Thursday the Lebanese judiciary over a ruling which ordered Saudi-based satellite communications operator Arabsat to resume broadcasting of the Lebanese channel.

Ibrahim Farhat, Al-Manar director-general, said the ruling of a Lebanese judge is a victory to media in Lebanon.

“In my opinion, this (ruling) is a victory for freedom of expression. It’s a victory for the entire Lebanese media outlets, and not just for al-Manar,” Farhat said.

“The judiciary has established our right in the face of Arabsat because the decision (of the latter) was oppressive and unilateral,” the TV director-general said, noting that the Arabsat annulled the contract with Al-Manar without consultations or at least prior notice.

Earlier on Thursday, Lebanese Judge of Urgent Affairs of Baabda Court, Hassan Hamdan, issued a verdict providing that Arabsat should re-broadcast the frequencies of Al-Manar TV anew “as soon as possible.”

Source: Al-Manar