BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities announced Sunday that they had revoked the operating licenses of Al-Jazeera and nine other satellite TV channels.
The move, effective immediately, comes as they are widespread calls for resignation of Nouri al-Maliki following last Tuesday attack of protesters in city of Hawijah which left many killed and wounded.
Qatar based Al-Jazeera TV said it was “astonished” by the move.
The other nine channels whose licenses were suspended by Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission are al-Sharqiya and al-Sharqiya News, which frequently criticize the government of Nouri al-Maliki, and seven smaller local channels — Salahuddin, Fallujah, Taghyeer, Baghdad, Babiliya, Anwar 2 and al-Gharbiya.
The decree states that if the 10 stations try to work on Iraqi territory, they will face legal action from security forces.
Signals of their broadcasts, however, remained available to Iraqi viewers Sunday.
