Outrage Erupts in Iraq Over MBC Channel’s Labeling of Palestinian Leaders as “Terrorists”
Recent events have ignited significant controversy following a documentary aired by the Saudi Arabia channel MBC, which labeled prominent Palestinian resistance leaders—Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Saleh Al-Arouri—as “terrorists.” The program, titled “The Millennium of Liberation from Terrorists,” provoked widespread backlash across social media platforms and led to protests in Iraq.
The situation escalated dramatically when approximately 400 to 500 protesters stormed the MBC office in Baghdad, causing substantial damage, including setting parts of the building on fire. The protests were fueled by deep anger towards the portrayal of Palestinian leaders, which many viewed as an endorsement of Israeli narratives. The Iraqi youth, particularly, expressed their outrage against what they saw as an attack on the Palestinian cause.
In the aftermath of the protests, journalist Mohammed Al-Mishari, who contributed to the controversial report, deleted his X account amid the backlash. MBC subsequently removed the report from all its social media channels. This incident prompted the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media to announce an investigation into the matter, reaffirming their commitment to uphold media regulations and policies in the Kingdom.
The fallout from the documentary has led to Saudi Al Arabiya and MBC announcing their departure from Iraq, indicating the serious implications of the backlash against their portrayal of Palestinian resistance figures. As tensions continue to rise, the incident highlights the sensitive nature of media representations in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the strong reactions such portrayals can provoke in the region.
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