RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The television network Al Arab appeared well equipped to muscle its way into the Middle East’s crowded market of satellite news channels: top talent, backing from a fabulously rich Saudi prince and permission to broadcast from the island kingdom of Bahrain.
But less than a day after it began, the channel suspended broadcasting on Monday, apparently forced to stop by the authorities in Bahrain after it gave airtime to an opposition leader who criticized a recent government decision.
“The broadcast has been stopped for technical and administrative reasons, and we’ll be back soon, God willing,” the channel said on its Twitter feed.
The truncated debut of Al Arab’s broadcast is the most recent collision of the efforts by the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf to portray themselves as open to the outside world while drastically limiting freedom of speech and political rights at home.
With economies powered by petroleum wealth, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have opened branches of world-class universities, founded museums and welcomed international leaders to speak at conferences.
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“It is increasingly evident that negotiations are underway to find common ground between the channel’s urging toward ‘balance’ and the country’s economic, political and cultural interests,” Mr. Khalil said.
But the channel clearly angered some Bahrainis.
In an article in the daily newspaper Akhbar al-Khaleej, the editor, Anwar Abdel-Rahman, chastised Al Arab for welcoming a guest he called “extreme to the core” and accused it of failing its duties.
Such broadcasts “will harm you in the eyes of the Arab viewer faster than you imagine,” he wrote. “And more than that, your failure may have started the day you were born!”
Kareem Fahim contributed reporting from Baghdad.
Kareem Fahim contributed reporting from Baghdad.
A version of this article appears in print on February 3, 2015, on page A4 of the New York edition with the headline: Channel in Bahrain Goes Silent After Giving Opposition Airtime . Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe
