BEIRUT: Shiite party Hizbullah slammed Friday two Arab satellite providers for dropping a television channel from predominantly Shiite Iran as a “violation of freedom of speech and opinion.” “Hizbullah condemns Arabsat and Nilesat’s decision to stop broadcasting the channel Al-Alam: a decision made on political grounds,” the party said, calling it “a violation of freedom of speech and opinion.” Arabsat and Egyptian Nilesat this week stopped Al-Alam broadcasts on the grounds it was in breach of contract, the press reported. But Al-Alam’s Beirut bureau chief, Atef Musawi, said the decision was punishment for the channel’s support of Hizbullah. – AFP