Sunday, March 31, 2013

Jailed for Facebook 'like': Palestinians endure Middle-East-wide 'social media crackdown'

In the last week, two Palestinians have been sentenced to prison terms for online libel and slander of politicians. Meanwhile, an arrest order has been issued for a popular Egyptian satirist, raising fears of a crackdown on freedom in the region.

The Magistrate's Court in Salfit, West Bank, sentenced a 29-year-old Anas Ismail to 6 months in jail, on charges of "libel and slander against former communications minister" as he was found guilty of “Liking” hostile messages towards the politician on Facebook.

One of the posts demanded the dismissal of the politician and another phrase demanded accountability from the minister.

According to Ismail, "Preventive Security locked me up for 17 days, on charges of libel and slander, and last Thursday I was sentenced in absentia by the Court of Salfit to six months in prison,” quotes Alresalah publication.

 Ismail, who works in computer programming and is active in social media said "I was summoned 10 times in the past six months over my activity on social networking pages." Full story...

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