Baghdad: Iraqi authorities suspended the operating licenses of pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera and nine Iraqi TV channels on Sunday after accusing them of escalating sectarian tension. The move signaled the Shiite-led government's mounting worries over deteriorating security amid Sunni unrest and clashes that have left more than 180 people dead in less than a week.
The suspensions, which took effect immediately, appeared to target mainly Sunni channels known for criticizing Prime Minister Nouri al-Malik's government. Apart from Al-Jazeera, the decision affected eight Sunni and one Shiite channels.
The government's action comes as Baghdad tries to quell rising unrest in the country that erupted last week after Iraqi security forces launched a deadly crackdown on a Sunni protest site in the central city of Hawija, killing 23 people, including three soldiers. Since then, more than 180 people have been killed in gunbattles with security forces and other attacks.
The recent wave of violence follows more than four months of largely peaceful protests by Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government. Iraqi viewers will still be able to watch the channels, but the suspensions issued by Iraq's Communications and Media Commission state that if the 10 stations try to work on Iraqi territory they will face legal action from security forces. The decree essentially prevents news crews from the stations from reporting on activities in Iraq....
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08:52 AM, Apr 29, 2013
Dubai: The website of Qatar-based satellite news network Al Jazeera was apparently hacked on Tuesday by Syrian government loyalists for what they said was the television channel's support for the "armed terrorist groups and spreading lies and fabricated news". A Syrian flag and statement denouncing Al Jazeera's "positions against the Syrian people and government" were posted on the Arabic site of the channel in response to its coverage of the...
01:39 AM, Sep 05, 2012
New Delhi: Qatar-based Al Jazeera Network on Thursday announced the launch of its news channel Al Jazeera English across India on Dish TV and plans to tie-up with other direct-to-home (DTH) platforms to spread its reach. The network is also considering launching a Hindi news channel in the country. "Al Jazeera English has just completed five years internationally and to announce its national launch in India is a significant step...
05:54 PM, Nov 17, 2011
Tripoli: Explosions and gunfire rocked Tripoli through the night as opponents of Muammar Gaddafi rose up in the capital, declaring a final push to topple the Libyan leader after a six-month war reached the city's outskirts. A defiant Gaddafi said an assault by "rats" had been repelled. "Those rats... were attacked by the masses tonight and we eliminated them," Gaddafi said in an audio message broadcast over state television early...
11:16 AM, Aug 21, 2011
Dubai: Missing journalist Dorothy Parvaz, who was held by Iranian authorities after being detained in Syria, arrived in her company's home base of Qatar on Wednesday after winning her freedom. Parvaz's fiance, Todd Barker, said she called him early on Wednesday from Qatar as she was clearing customs. Her employer, Al Jazeera, confirmed the release, saying she is "safe and well and back with us" in the capital Doha. "I...
02:05 PM, May 18, 2011
Dubai: The Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera said on Friday its signal was being jammed on several frequencies and its website had been blocked in Libya. Al Jazeera, whose coverage of the political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa is widely watched in the Arab world, reported the jamming on its website where it offered alternative frequencies on the Arabsat, Nilesat and Hot Bird satellites. Al Jazeera has...
11:04 AM, Feb 19, 2011
Moscow: The Egyptian authorities have imposed a ban on the work of the Arabic TV channel Al-Jazeera in Egypt amid escalating anti-government protests in the north African country, Egypt's state television announced on Sunday. According to the announcement, the accreditations of Al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt have been annulled and the TV channel's access to satellite communication has been closed. Al-Jazeera was a major news source for Egyptians, as it had...
05:30 PM, Jan 30, 2011
The decisive verdict of 2009 is making news around the world. ...
02:30 AM, May 21, 2009
'Al Jazeera English' is launched to provide an alternative to the Western channels like CNN and BBC. ...
02:12 PM, Nov 17, 2006
Al Jazeera announced its full line-up of bureaux and correspondents worldwide ahead of its global launch later this year. ...
05:17 PM, Oct 11, 2006
Al-Jazeera TV channel airs a video showing Osama bin Laden planning the attacks on the twin towers on Sept 9, 2001. ...
09:18 AM, Sep 08, 2006
