Egypt arrests 11 Islamists for Facebook activity

It accused them of using the social network site for "inciting violence, targeting citizens, making bombs and carrying threatening messages."

January 30, 2014 08:01 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 07:17 pm IST - Cairo

Egypt’s Interior Ministry says it has arrested 11 Muslim Brotherhood members whom it accused of running Facebook pages inciting violence against the police.

It alleged the group used the social network site for “inciting violence, targeting citizens, making bombs and carrying threatening messages.” It said one member called for the formation of an Islamic army and two others circulated names and pictures of police officers.

Egyptian authorities have cracked down heavily on the Brotherhood since the July 3 overthrow of President Mohamed Morsy, who hailed from the group. But Thursday’s arrests were some of the first to target alleged Brotherhood members for Internet activity.

The Brotherhood has held non—stop protests since Morsy’s ouster. Meanwhile, a more radical Islamic militant group based in the Sinai has claimed attacks targeting police.

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