Al-Alam: YouTube Account Blocked Under Saudi Pressure

Local Editor

Video-sharing website YouTube had reportedly blocked an account belonging to Iranian Arabic-language news network al-Alam under pressure from Saudi Arabia, the TV channel said.

Al-Alam reported Monday that YouTube had closed its account after the Broadcasting Services of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [BSKSA] lodged a complaint against the Iranian TV.

The report also slammed the move as "unprecedented and unprofessional," saying al-Alam's YouTube account was blocked without any prior notice and based on "unfounded claims."

The network denounced YouTube's move in taking down al-Alam's page as a "breach of regulations and technical protocols."

This is not the first time the Saudis had taken action against the Iranian news channel.

Earlier last year, Saudi hackers overtook al-Alam Twitter account and its YouTube network, posting items in support of Saudi Arabia's military campaign against Yemen.

Al-Alam is one of the leading foreign-language news channels operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting [IRIB], which also runs the English-language Press TV and the Spanish-language HispanTV.

The network has a vast following in the Persian Gulf countries and elsewhere among the Arab audience.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team