Media sources reported that the General Commission for Audiovisual Media in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday the commencement of an investigation involving several officials from a television channel. This decision came in the wake of a broadcast news report that sparked widespread controversy in media and political circles.
The Commission clarified in its official statement that this action is in response to what it considered a violation of the media regulations and policies in force in the Kingdom. The Commission also emphasized its commitment to monitoring the performance of media outlets and their compliance with specified guidelines, stressing that it will not tolerate any violations of the law.
Although the specific television channel under investigation was not identified, media reports suggest that the controversy arose after the broadcast of a report titled “The Millennium of Deliverance from Terrorists” on MBC channel as part of the program “MBC in a Week”. This report triggered angry reactions, culminating in the storming of the headquarters of one of the production companies associated with the group in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
In a related development, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission announced a decision to suspend MBC’s broadcast in Iraq, citing repeated violations of broadcasting regulations and what it described as disrespect towards resistance leaders.
It is worth noting that the controversial report included references to leaders of various organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, which sparked sharp criticism from these groups. Hamas issued a statement condemning the report, describing it as “dark incitement” against the movement and its leadership.
These developments come at a time when the region is witnessing escalating political and media tensions, highlighting the challenges facing freedom of expression and media in light of current circumstances.