Sudan security questions group of youths over Facebook posts

July 9, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Security authorities in North Kordofan state have interrogated a group of youths for commenting on a report posted on a Facebook page claiming that incidents of embezzlement are taking place at the Zakat (alms) Chamber in the state.

Muataz Al-Muasil, Alaa addin Suleiman Khamis, and Adam Issa were quizzed about their comments on a report originally published the pro-opposition Al-Rakoba website dealing with corruption in the Zakat Chamber.

The report accuses the director of Zakat Chamber at Ghibaish locality in North Kordofan, Salah Siddig, of thievery and nepotism.

The three youths were told by their interrogators that they will be referred to court following completion of investigation.

Sudanese bloggers and activists are facing an organized campaign of hacking which targets their personal accounts on social networks such as Facebook.

In 2012, security authorities detained and severely tortured the video-blogger, Najla Sid Ahmed, who covered human rights violations in Sudan through interviews with activists and victims of human rights.

Statistics show that more than 6 million Sudanese people use the internet.

The government imposes a tax of up to 30% of the tariff on communication companies.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) had trifled with past calls on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to overthrow the regime.

(ST)