-
Iraq Suspends "MBC" Broadcasting Due to Report on Pro-Iran Leaders
-
The Iraqi move raises questions about the independence of media in the country and its ability to address issues related to armed militias without restrictions. The action taken against the Saudi chan
On Saturday, Iraqi media authorities issued a decision to suspend the activities of the Saudi channel "MBC" in its territory, following the broadcast of content describing leaders of armed factions allied with Tehran as "terrorists".
A statement issued by the Iraqi Media and Communications Commission, published by the government news agency (INA), stated that the suspension of the channel's operations came as a result of "MBC satellite channel's violation of media publishing guidelines through its repeated violations and insults" to those it called "symbols of victory and resistance leaders."
This decision comes in a tense context between Gulf media outlets and armed groups in Iraq, where the latter accuse some news channels of bias against them and distorting their image. This measure has sparked widespread controversy over the limits of freedom of expression and the influence of political forces on the media landscape in the country.
MBC is one of the most prominent media platforms in the Arab world, and suspending its broadcast in Iraq could lead to diplomatic repercussions between Baghdad and Riyadh. This event also highlights the challenges facing journalism in the region, especially when addressing sensitive topics related to armed groups and their political influence.
Observers view this step as potentially enhancing self-censorship among media outlets operating in Iraq, which could negatively affect the flow of information and the diversity of viewpoints presented to the Iraqi public.
Levant-Follow up
