Jordan- Audiovisual Commission 'had no hand' in Josat suspension 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Audiovisual Commission Director General Amjad Qadi on Saturday denied media reports that the commission was responsible for suspending the transmission of the Josat TV channel on Thursday, faulting the press for not verifying these claims.

Qadi was responding to local media outlets which had published allegations that the commission had suspended the satellite channel after it re-aired a chat show in which opposition figures criticised the Royal Court.

"The decision was made by the Saudi Media City, based in Egypt. We had no hand in this decision. The accusations are absolutely baseless and the owner of the TV station knows that as a fact," Qadi told The Jordan Times, stressing that the commission does not interfere in the private sector's affairs and resorts to the judiciary to resolve any disputes it may have with companies.

Josat had been facing financial difficulties and owed money to the commission, which had issued several warnings to the station before referring the case to court in February. The court is expected to rule on the case soon, he added.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists on Saturday expressed concern over the suspension of Josat's transmission, urging the relevant authorities and the station's management to clarify the reasons behind it.