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Hamas Monitors Facebook Activism

Hamas' security services in Gaza are keeping a close eye on Facebook activity for hostile opinions and planned protests.
A Palestinian salesperson holds Apple's new iPhone 5 at a mobile phone store in Gaza City October 16, 2012. Apple's new iPhone 5 is selling well in the Gaza Strip despite inflated prices, reaching the Palestinian enclave via smuggling tunnels even before high-tech hub Israel next door.   REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS SOCIETY TELECOMS) - RTR3970R
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At a small desk in the interrogation room, Youssef sat stupefied as he faced an investigator belonging to Gaza’s internal security apparatus. He was presented with printouts of articles he'd written and published on Facebook criticizing the Hamas movement and its government.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, “Youssef” — a pseudonym — explains how he has been arrested once and summoned for interrogation five times. Each time, the investigator asked him for his Facebook, Twitter and email passwords to read his private messages. They also confiscated Youssef’s mobile phone.

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