An international news channel based in Bahrain has been suspended for "failing to obtain necessary licensing" to commence broadcasting, the Information Affairs Authority said in a statement yesterday (February 9).

The 24-hour Al Arab News Channel, which has been off air for eight days, was also accused of failing to "match the standards of regional and international practice agreements, to take account of efforts aimed at stemming the tide of extremism and terrorism throughout the region and the wider world,” said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It was reported to the Cabinet by the Higher Authority of Media and Communications, which Information Affairs Minister Isa Al Hammadi - who is also official government spokesman - said had "no option" but to act.

"We have offered them [Al Arab] administrative and technical support to carry out their work in line with international and GCC conventions and the current situation regionally and worldwide as the war goes on against terrorism, but those requirements were not fulfilled," he said during a press conference following yesterday's Cabinet session.

"This left the Supreme Council for Information and Telecommunication no option but to take necessary action and recommend it to the Cabinet for implementation."

The station's website, www.alarabtv.net, was offline yesterday, but its Twitter and Facebook accounts were still active.

Meanwhile, promotional footage that was being aired instead of news broadcasts also stopped yesterday and was replaced by the channel's logo.

"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," added the IAA statement.

"The IAA highlights its commitment to ensuring that all media institutions operate firmly within Bahrain's rules and regulations, which are designed to protect the interests and views of all.

"The IAA continues to co-operate with private institutions based in the kingdom to ensure their compliance with Bahrain's rules and regulations, and recognises their important role in further enhancing the media and communications sector including creating more job opportunities, a key priority under the kingdom's programme of sustainable economic development."

The channel's chief executive, Fahad Al Sukait, declined to comment when contacted by the GDN yesterday. - TradeArabia News Service