Protesters storm Saudi broadcaster MBC's office in Baghdad over remarks against Iran-backed groups



Supporters of Iran-backed groups ransacked the Baghdad office of Saudi broadcaster MBC early on Saturday, a security source told The National, over a report that referred to commanders of Tehran-aligned militias as “terrorists”.

More than 400 people entered the channel's office in the Al Jamia neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital after midnight. They started a fire in the yard before breaking into the building where they damaged equipment and furniture, a security officer with the Interior Ministry said.

Iraqi security forces later sealed off the area, blocking all roads leading to the building, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. There has been no official statement from authorities.

Excerpts of the MBC report sparked anger and criticism on social media and Telegram channels belonging to the Iran-backed militias. The report focused on terrorism in the region, and referred to Yahya Sinwar as being the latest “terrorist” to be killed. The Hamas leader was killed by Israel on Wednesday.

Qassem Suleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force who was killed at Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020, was described as a “symbol of terrorism”. Other key figures such as Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, killed alongside Suleimani, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, also recently killed in an Israeli strike, were mentioned.

Shiite MP Mustafa Sanad vowed to work to cancel the network's licence. “There is no place for you in Iraq,” Mr Sanad wrote on X. “You listen to the report as if you are listening to [Israeli] Channel 14, which is affiliated with the [Zionist] entity,” he said.

Hamas issued a statement condemning the report and demanding an apology from the broadcaster.

Several hours later, Iraq's media regulator announced it was revoking MBC's license.

“In view of the repeated violations of MBC satellite channel’s broadcasting regulations, as well as its attacks on the martyrs... 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.

Videos online showed the protesters waving flags of the Popular Mobilisation Forces and the Hezbollah Brigades – one of the most influential Iraqi Shiite militias. Others shouted “No, no to America” and “no, no to Israel”.

Tension and conflict has been escalating in the region as Iran-backed groups – Hamas and Hezbollah – as well as allies in Yemen, Syria and Iraq have been at war with Israel for more than a year. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a shadow group consisting of various militias, frequently claims responsibility for drone strikes launched at Israel.

MBC's Baghdad office was also attacked in 2020. A programme aired on MBC1 suggested that Iraqi militia leader Al Muhandis was involved in arranging an attack in Lebanon nearly 40 years ago. At the time the channel said it would place the matter in the hands of Iraqi authorities to protect MBC’s Iraq employees and the organisation.

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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Install an air filter in your home.

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  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega

Director: Tim Burton

Rating: 3/5

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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

Updated: October 20, 2024, 10:17 AM