The Information Affairs Authority in Bahrain announced the suspension of Al-Arab satellite news channel Monday, according to the Bahrain News Agency, hours after its start when the channel aired an interview with a government opposition activist.
The IAA said the channel failed to meet regional and international practice agreements, BNA said, "to take account of efforts aimed at stemming the tide of extremism and terrorism throughout the region and the wider world."
The 24-hour channel was newly broadcasted in the MENA region and is headquartered in Bahrain. When the channel was taken off the air, a tweet by Al-Arab said it was facing "technical and administrative problems" and hoped to be back on air soon.
The news channel announced its launch in February and said it hoped to fill a critical void in the Arabic-speaking world, reaching millions of viewers "with an objective, fresh and unbiased view of world events," CEO Fahad Sukait said.
"We felt there was a real need for an independent and impartial channel," General Manager Jamal Khashoggi said in a statement. "We are proud that our programs will go beyond the 'normal' to provide viewers with the stories that matter to them."
The IAA said it must ensure that all news broadcasts follow the rules and regulations "designed to protect the views and interests of all."
"The IAA stresses that the decision has no impact upon principles of media freedom and is strictly based on the government's commitment to ensuring the diversity and impartiality of media outlets in the Kingdom," IAA said in a statement.
