MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted in
favor of a resolution on countering Russian media outlets, such as the
Sputnik news agency and the RT broadcaster. As many as 304 voted in
favor the document, 179 voted against and 208 abstained. With a total of
691 officials taking part in the vote, less than half supported the
resolution.

Bin Jiddo said that Al Mayadeen journalists “reacted with deep outrage
to the European Parliament’s vote in favor of the resolution criticizing
Russian media and calling to counteract them.”

“Despite the fact that this resolution is non-binding, it reflects the
level of devastation in consciousness and mind of political and media
leaders of the circles that are behind this decision. Those, who voted
in favor of the repression of free speech, for monopolization of truth,
in fact, admit their weakness. They do not accept the influence that you
exert on the European and global public opinion,” the letter said.

Al Mayadeen’s director pointed out that the propaganda machine of those,
who made the decision, started to fail with public losing confidence in
political elites.

“On my own behalf and on the behalf of the Al Mayadeen telecommunication
network I express our sincere solidarity and support amid this
inadequate decision of the European Parliament and firmly condemn the
sanctions introduced personally against you,” bin Jiddo added.

Wednesday’s resolution said that Sputnik and RT posed a danger to
European unity and called for extra European Commission funding for
counter-propaganda projects.

Sputnik responded by calling the move a direct violation of media
freedom and human rights, while Russian President Vladimir Putin
commented on the matter by pointing out that the document indicates a
degradation of democracy in the West. Praising Sputnik and RT for their
work, the president expressed hope that real media restrictions would
not follow.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/world/201611241047781434-al-mayadeen-journalists-russian-media/