Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Yemeni private satellite channel Balqees TV, which is based in Istanbul, announced the suspension of its television broadcast starting today, Friday. It attributed this decision to “force majeure and circumstances beyond its control,” thus ending a decade of media work that accompanied the most prominent milestones of the Yemeni scene since 2015.
The channel, whose board of directors is chaired by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, stated in an official announcement that the decision to shut down came after years of continuous coverage of Yemeni affairs, which focused on conveying the truth and defending the values of freedom, dignity, and the right to knowledge.
Balqees launched on February 11, 2015, during a turbulent political phase that followed the coup carried out by the Houthi militia. Since its founding, it has carried a media message aimed at highlighting the voice of the Yemeni people. Throughout its years of operation, the channel provided field coverage, analytical programs, and news reports that contributed to its prominent presence on the Yemeni media map.
The statement noted that the channel made “great sacrifices” during its journey; it lost several members of its staff in the field, its journalists were persecuted, its offices in Sana’a and Aden were confiscated, and it was prevented from working in several areas under different authorities. The channel also faced political and media incitement campaigns from parties and countries that sought—according to the statement—to distort its role and question its professionalism.
Balqees affirmed that throughout its years, it remained an “independent channel that belongs to the Yemeni land and is biased only towards the Yemeni people and their just cause.” It praised the efforts of its staff, who represented various segments of Yemen, and its correspondents who reported events from conflict areas despite the dangers, with some giving their lives in the line of duty.
The channel addressed its audience by saying that “the suspension of broadcasting will not be the end of the message,” affirming that it will continue its work through its digital platforms until circumstances permit the resumption of television broadcasting in the future.
In conclusion, the channel expressed its appreciation to all its employees, partners, and media and human rights organizations that supported its journey, wishing Yemen peace, security, and dignity, and the media landscape freedom and pluralism that reflects the aspirations of the Yemenis.
