U.S.-Funded Al Hurra Under Scrutiny

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The State Department [6]'s Inspector General is investigating Al Hurra [7], the U.S.-funded, Arabic-language satellite TV network. According to the Financial Times, the Broadcasting Board of Governors [8] asked for the investigation into "possible irregularities" with procurement and contracting as well as "concerns that viewing figures might be inflated." The BBG oversees Al Hurra, which has a budget of $49 million for 2005.
The House of Representatives Committee on International Relations subcommittee on oversight and investigations is also looking into the Virginia-based network, which broadcasts to 22 countries. The FT reports Kenneth Tomlinson [9] -- BBG chair and until very recently [10] a member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [11] -- and Al Hurra news director Mouafac Harb [12] will be called as witnesses for the November 10 hearing [13]. According to the FT, Harb called the inspector general's investigation a general review into whether al-Hurra was fulfilling its mission. "There's a campaign against al-Hurra by some people in this city who don't like our dedication to freedom and democracy," he said.