Al-Zawraa TV

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Al-Zawraa (or Al-Zawra) TV is an Iraqi satellite television channel, known for airing video footage of insurgent attacks on US-led coalition forces.

The station is owned by Mish'an al-Juburi, leader of the Sunni Arab Front for Reconciliation and Liberation. He was stripped of his parliamentary immunity in October 2006 after being accused of embezzlement. In November 2006, the channel was ordered closed "for inciting violence and murder".^[1]

The station re-opened in late November 2006, transmitting looped programming on the Nilesat satellite. The station's headquarters are said to be in Syria after the closure of its offices in Iraq, but the playout of the programming is maintained by Nilesat.

The station is accused of having close links to militant groups in Iraq, and much of its programming consists of pro-Sunni, anti-Shi'i propaganda, containing footage of attacks on US-led coalition forces, and on-screen announcements by presenters wearing olive green Ba'th party combat fatigues. Logos of the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Mujahideen Shura Council of Al-Qa'idah in Iraq have been noted in footage of attacks.

In January 2007, the station was noted broadcasting on the Eutelsat-owned Eurobird satellite and on the Arabsat/Badr satellite, both at the 26 degrees east orbital position. The Eurobird outlet was closed after only a few days' operation. The station's transmission was closed on the Nilesat 101 satellite in February 2007 for "interference with other channels".

On February 12th 2007 , Alzawraa TV showed several footage of insurgent snipers killing American soldiers in Iraq . With a patriotic song on the background , the network asked the viewers to comment on these footages by E-mail . The station shows a combination of religious footages and violent actions against U.S. soldiers 24/7 and encourages people to "Jihad" against Americans .

The programs are in Arabic , yet English subtitle is available most of the time .

^[2] The channel continues to broadcast via Arabsat.