Saudi Arabia refers media officials for investigation over MBC ‘terrorism’ report

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Media Regulation (Gmedia) is referring officials at the MBC TV channel for investigation following reports that they violated the Kingdom’s media regulations and policies.

The announcement was made in a statement on Saturday evening.

The decision comes following reports that the Saudi-owned MBC TV channel aired a report calling Hamas and Hezbollah leaders "terrorists", with excerpts from the report making rounds on social media, sparking anger from viewers, particularly in Iraq.

The MBC report, which comes amidst Israel’s ongoing wars on Gaza and Lebanon, mentioned several groups and figures under the label of "terrorism" in the region, including Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. 

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was also mentioned, as were armed Iraqi factions linked to Iran, in addition to Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden

Saudi Arabia’s media authority regulators reiterated that they are "continuously monitoring the extent in which media outlets adhere to the Kingdom’s media regulations and content controls and will not be lenient in enforcing the rules on any violators".

The MBC report has since been removed from all platforms following the backlash.

As a result of the report, Iraq on Saturday decided to close MBC’s office in the country. The channel also had its operating license granted by the communications and media commission cancelled for "violating media broadcasting regulations".

Iraq’s communications and media commission also issued a statement which said the decision comes "based on our duty entrusted to us under the laws and legislation to regulate the media sector, prevent violations and deter those who violate national values and public morals".

"In light of the MBC satellite channel’s violation of the media broadcasting regulations through its repeated transgressions and its attacks on the martyrs, the leaders of the victory and heroic resistance who are fighting the battle of honour against the Zionist entity, we confirm that all necessary and legal measures will be taken and it will be stopped from operating in Iraq" the statement continued.

On Saturday, protesters in Iraq ransacked the MBC offices in Baghdad, setting fire to part of it.

Between 400 and 500 people attacked the Baghdad studios of Saudi broadcaster MBC after midnight.

"They wrecked the electronic equipment, the computers, and set fire to a part of the building," an interior ministry source told AFP on condition of anonymity.