Advanced Television

Kuwait closes opposition TV channel

July 24, 2014

By Chris Forrester

Kuwait’s Ministry of Information regulator has revoked the broadcast licence of the Al-Youm channel which broadcasts widely over the Middle East. The Ministry is also revoking the citizenship Ahmed al-Jabr, chairman of the channel (and also owner of the Alam al Youm newspaper which has also been proscribed).

Local reports suggest that the channel, which backs certain opposition groups in Kuwait, has fallen foul of a toughening of Kuwaiti attitudes to free speech and criticism of the ruling family.

There has been a long-running argument between the elected parliament and the appointed government in which members of the ruling family hold many top posts.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Policy, Regulation