Iraqi satellite TV channel Al Fayhaa still on air

[Analoguesat]

The Iraqi satellite television channel Al Fayhaa was broadcasting till late last night despite a demand to shut it down by a little known Iraqi militant group that kidnapped a UAE diplomat. The channel, which began operating about 20 months ago from Dubai Media City, is owned by Iraqi businessman Mohammad Alta'ai. The Banner of Islam group, which kidnapped UAE diplomat Naji Rashid Al Nuaimi, had also demanded Abu Dhabi recall its charge d'affaires from Baghdad within 24 hours.

Al Fayhaa TV is a client of Sama Communications Company Limited (Samacom) and its programmes are targeted at Shiite-dominated areas in southern Iraq. The TV channel's programmes are produced in Studio 4 at the UAE Television and Radio station in Ajman. Abdullah Mohammad Murad, Chairman of UAE Television and Radio from Ajman, told Gulf News yesterday that Al Fayhaa TV was recording its programmes in Studio 4, but it was licensed to operate through Samacom in Dubai Media City. When Gulf News contacted Al Fayhaa TV they refused to comment.

In February, Ali Saif Al Ka'abi, UAE envoy in Iraq, was quoted by Al Sharq Al Awsat as saying that the channel's licence was cancelled because it violated the initial agreement and broadcast their programmes from Ajman instead of Dubai Media City. However, the channel was allowed to operate from Dubai Media City for a short period of time before they left the country.