Iraq revokes licence of Saudi Arabia's MBC channel

Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission has revoked the licence of the Saudi channel MBC after it referred to Hamas as “terrorists”.

On Saturday, the Board of Commissioners for the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission approved the cancellation of the Saudi MBC channel’s license and instructed its operations to be suspended in Iraq.

This came after a report aired by the channel labeled Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Iraqi resistance factions “terrorists”. Angry protesters stormed the channel’s offices in Baghdad, vandalised its contents and set it on fire following the report.

Protesters stormed the Baghdad offices of #Saudi broadcaster MBC early this morning. Between 400 and 500 demonstrators attacked the studio following a report that labelled Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and Iraqi resistance factions ‘terrorists.’ The activists have called for a ban on… pic.twitter.com/YmiZo36Iau

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) October 19, 2024

The controversial report mentioned several key figures, including Osama Bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda, along with other leaders from his group. It also referenced Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who was killed by Israel last week in the Gaza Strip, and his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in late July, in an operation attributed to Israel.

Hamas condemned the report, calling it a “professional, media, and ethical failure.”

READ: Protesters storm Saudi MBC channel in Iraq after anchor calls Hamas chief a ‘terrorist’