ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's media regulator on Saturday revoked the license of MBC satellite channel, a day after the Saudi broadcaster labeled pro-Iran figures as “terrorists.”
“In view of the repeated violations of MBC satellite channel’s broadcasting regulations, as well as its attacks on the martyrs, the leaders of victory, and the heroic resistance commanders who are engaged in the honorable battle against the usurping Zionist entity, we affirm that all necessary legal measures will be taken, including its suspension from operating in Iraq,” read a statement from the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) published by state media INA.
On Friday, MBC published a video entitled “Millennium of deliverance from terrorists” depicting pro-Iran figures who have been assassinated in United States or Israeli strikes, notably Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. The video report also featured deceased leaders of internationally-designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.
“In this millennium, the world got rid of many terrorist figures who terrorized the world and shed blood,” read the text on the video.
MBC Group, formerly known as the Middle East Broadcasting Centre, is based in Riyadh and offers several channels with services in regional languages.
The CMC said that it has instructed its executive body to “revoke the broadcasting license granted to the channel.”
The MBC broadcast angered supporters of Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran. Hours after it was aired, dozens of protesters carrying flags of the militia groups stormed the MBC office in Baghdad and set parts of it on fire, according to footage obtained by Rudaw.
Mustafa Sanad, an outspoken Iraqi lawmaker, warned in a post on X that “the issue does not end with destruction or burning.” He said that he would seek to get the broadcaster’s license cancelled.
The Palestinian Hamas movement condemned MBC for the “provocative report against the movement and its leaders,” labeling it a “professional downfall and decline.”
Hamas called on MBC to apologize and delete the video.
