The Iraqi satellite channel al-Baghdadia The Iraqi satellite channel al-Baghdadia was forced to close its national offices following a decision from the Iraqi Authority of Media and Communications. Al-Baghdadia’s Director of News Mohamed Hanoon told Arabstoday the channel’s Baghdad office received a decree from the Iraqi Authority of Media and Communications, ordering the channel to close its offices in governorates across Iraq.
Hanoon added that the channel has offices in 18 Iraqi governorates, employing 150 employees in total. He said that the channel has already closed its offices in 15 governorates, while offices in North Iraq province will remain open as they are subject to federal authority.
The decision is considered the second of its kind after the Meida and Communication Authority closed media offices in November 2010 because of what it described as violations against the rules of media broadcasting.