Ahwaz TV has been observed to resume transmissions on satellite after a gap of 12 months. The channel, which is believed to be based in Canada, broadcasts in Arabic on behalf of the National Liberation Movement of Ahwaz. The movement demands independence and an end to Iranian “occupation”. Ahwaz (or Ahvaz) is the capital of the Iranian province of Khuzestan.
A statement on the channel’s website (www.al-ahwaz.com) says that it has resumed broadcasts despite attempts by Iranian security agencies to obstruct it. According to the website it will broadcast 24 hours a day, but checks by BBC Monitoring have shown that this is not currently the case.
The channel broadcasts on the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees west; frequency 12650 MHz, polarization horizontal, symbol rate 2000, FEC 1/2. The website says that transmissions cover the Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia and Africa but do not at present reach North America.
(Source: BBC Monitoring research 25 Apr 07)
