What MBC Company and Channels Are Currently Facing in Arab Countries
What MBC Company and Channels Are Currently Facing in Arab Countries After the Uprising on Social Media Platforms
Storming of the “MBC” Channel Office in Baghdad by Supporters of Armed Iraqi Factions
At dawn on Saturday, hundreds of supporters of armed Iraqi factions stormed the office of the Saudi “MBC” channel in the capital, Baghdad. This storming came in protest against the channel airing a report that described Palestinian resistance leaders as “terrorists.”
Images circulated on social media sites showed flames erupting at the facade of the channel's headquarters in Baghdad, as dozens of demonstrators stormed the office's corridors and rooms. These events resulted in the destruction and smashing of many of the office's contents, reflecting the state of anger and protest that prevailed among the demonstrators as a result of what they considered an insult to Palestinian resistance leaders.
Officially: The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission Revokes MBC Channel's License
The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission officially announced its decision to revoke the license of the MBC satellite channel, with instructions issued to halt the channel's operations. This decision came after the channel aired a report deemed offensive to the martyred leaders, sparking strong reactions in Iraq.
This step comes in the context of rising tensions over media reports considered insulting or inappropriate, as the commission seeks to ensure respect for national values and public sentiments in the media.
The Iraqi Media Commission's Decision to Revoke MBC Channel's License
The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission issued a decision to revoke the license of the MBC satellite channel and stop it from broadcasting. This decision came in the context of increasing attacks on the martyred leaders, as a result of transgressions deemed offensive to the resistance.
Statement of the Iraqi Media Commission
An official statement was published by the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission explaining the reasons for this decision, stating: “Proceeding from our duty entrusted to us under the laws and legislation in regulating the media sector and preventing transgressions and deterring violators of national values and public morals, and in view of the MBC satellite channel's violation of media broadcasting regulations through its repeated transgressions and its attacks on the martyrs, the leaders of victory, and the heroic resistance leaders who are waging the battle of honor against the usurping Zionist entity, we affirm that all necessary legal measures will be taken and that it will be stopped from operating in Iraq.”
This decision reflects the commission's commitment to protecting national values and points to the importance of the media's social responsibility in Iraq.
The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission Suspends the Saudi “MBC” Channel
The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission announced on Saturday its decision to suspend the operations of the Saudi “MBC” channel in the country, against the backdrop of the channel airing a report that described leaders of pro-Iran groups as “terrorists.”
The commission said in a statement published by the official news agency (INA) that the suspension decision came as a result of “the MBC satellite channel's violation of media broadcasting regulations through its repeated transgressions and its attacks” on what it described as “the leaders of victory and the leaders of the resistance.” The statement added that the “executive apparatus of the commission has been directed to revoke the operating license granted” to the channel.
The Storming Events
After the airing of the controversial report, supporters of armed Iraqi factions loyal to Iran stormed the offices of a production company linked to the Saudi “MBC” channel in Baghdad, after midnight from Friday to Saturday. According to Agence France-Presse, they attacked the offices, with between 400 and 500 people storming the company's headquarters and proceeding to “smash computer equipment and burn part of the building,” as reported by an official in the Ministry of Interior.
The official pointed out that civil defense teams managed to extinguish the fire, while security forces dispersed the protesters, without any arrests being reported at that moment.
Security Reinforcements
Later on Saturday, the area witnessed a heavy deployment of police personnel who blocked access to the site. An Iraqi police official noted that “the angry demonstrators reached the headquarters before the law enforcement forces could send reinforcements,” confirming that the building “burned and was subjected to major vandalism.”
Reactions on Social Media
On the Telegram platform, the “Sabereen News” channel, which is close to the pro-Iran Iraqi factions, published video clips showing demonstrators carrying flags of the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Popular Mobilization Forces, an alliance of Iraqi factions that has become part of the official forces.
Users of social media networks in Iraq, including Telegram and WhatsApp, also circulated excerpts from the report aired by the program “MBC in a Week” on Friday, titled “The Millennium of Deliverance from Terrorists,” which sparked the anger of many users.
Content of the Report
The report referred to leading figures, including the founder of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and other leaders of the organization. The report also mentioned leaders of what is known as the Iran-led “axis of resistance,” including the head of the Hamas movement, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel this week in the Gaza Strip, and his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an assassination operation attributed to Israel in Tehran at the end of July.
With this decision, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission reflects its commitment to ensuring conformity with national values and public morals, amid the current tensions in the region.
Storming of the MBC Channel Headquarters in Baghdad by Angry Crowds
Video clips circulated on social media networks on Saturday showed angry crowds storming the headquarters of the Saudi MBC channel in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, where the headquarters was destroyed and set on fire. This attack came after the channel aired a report deemed offensive to resistance leaders.
According to Mehr News Agency, and based on reports from RT (Russia Today), the aforementioned clips showed how angry youths proceeded to set fire to the channel's headquarters, in protest against a report that described Palestinian, Iraqi, and Lebanese resistance leaders as “terrorists.”
These events come within the framework of escalating tensions in Iraq, where protesters express their discontent with media reports they see as transgressing national values and insulting the symbols of the resistance.
The General Authority for Media Regulation in Saudi Arabia Refers Officials for Investigation Over a News Report
The General Authority for Media Regulation in Saudi Arabia issued a statement on Saturday, announcing that it had referred officials from one of the television channels for investigation, against the backdrop of a news report deemed in violation of the Kingdom's media regulations and policies.
The authority explained that the investigation is ongoing “to complete the regulatory procedures regarding this violation.” This decision comes within the framework of the authority's commitment to adhering to media standards and ensuring the provision of content that aligns with the values and policies adopted in the Kingdom.
Strong Reactions to the “MBC” Channel Report
The Saudi announcement of referring officials for investigation came after the controversy sparked by a report aired by the “MBC” channel, in which the channel described leaders of pro-Iran groups as “terrorists.”
In the wake of this report, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission announced its decision to suspend the operations of the “MBC” channel in the country. The commission confirmed in its statement, published by the official news agency (INA), that the suspension decision came as a result of “the MBC satellite channel's violation of media broadcasting regulations through its repeated transgressions and its attacks” on what it described as “the leaders of victory and the leaders of the resistance.” The “executive apparatus of the commission was also directed to revoke the operating license granted” to the channel.
The Storming Events
After the airing of the controversial report, supporters of armed Iraqi factions loyal to Iran stormed the offices of a production company linked to the “MBC” channel in Baghdad, after midnight from Friday to Saturday. According to Agence France-Presse, between 400 and 500 people stormed the company's headquarters and proceeded to “smash computer equipment and burn a section of the building,” as reported by an official in the Ministry of Interior.
The official pointed out that civil defense teams managed to extinguish the fire, while security forces dispersed the protesters, without any arrests being reported at that moment. Later, the area witnessed a heavy deployment of police personnel who blocked access to the site.
Reactions on Social Media
An Iraqi police official noted that “the angry demonstrators reached the headquarters before the law enforcement forces could send reinforcements,” confirming that the building “burned and was subjected to major vandalism.”
On the Telegram platform, the “Sabereen News” channel, which is close to the pro-Iran Iraqi factions, published video clips showing demonstrators carrying flags of the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Popular Mobilization Forces, an alliance of Iraqi factions that has become part of the official forces.
Users of social media networks in Iraq, including Telegram and WhatsApp, also circulated excerpts from the report aired by the program “MBC in a Week” titled “The Millennium of Deliverance from Terrorists,” which sparked the anger of many users.
These events show the growing tensions in Iraq over media reports deemed offensive, which provoke strong reactions from the resistance factions.
And here we reach the necessity of boycotting channels like MBC and its sisters Sky News Arabia and Al Arabiya — this is the least we can offer!
And here, my dear friend, we have completed the mission successfully ✌
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