CAMPAIGNERS against the Saudi royal family gave a mixed welcome yesterday to news that the BBC is to close down its Arabic language television service after difficulties with a Saudi owned satellite relay station.
BBC Television's Worldwide Service announced on Monday that Orbit Communications, a Rome satellite relay station, was cancelling its contract to broadcast the service. Orbit is owned by a group chaired by a cousin of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.
A BBC spokesman declined to give reasons for the cancellation, although he said the decision was mutual. Orbit would not comment. But there was immediate speculation that the move was sparked by a programme broadcast on the channel a week ago about London based Saudi dissident, Dr Mohamed al Masari.
Parts of an earlier programme on the Masari case were blacked out before reaching the Middle East.
Dr Masari, leader of the London based Committee for the Defence of Legitimate Rights, has long been a thorn in Riyadh's side.
Earlier this year Britain ordered Dr Masari to leave the country for the Caribbean island of Dominica but he has appealed successfully.