URGENT: Social media re-blocked in several areas of Iraq

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq’s Ministry of Information re-blocked social media sites in many areas of Iraq after having reopened the sites a few days. These websites had been blocked since June 14 just as Iraq’s security situation sharply deteriorated as reported by IraqiNews.com: http://www.iraqinews.com/baghdad-politics/social-media-sites-blocked-iraq-ministry-communications/

On June 14, Iraqi authorities blocked social media sites to curtail the spread of propaganda and rumors that revolve around the general situation in the areas ravaged by the terrorist organization of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in the north and the west of the country.

According to the Ministry of Information, one of the motives of blocking social networking sites is to maintain the morale of the fighters of the Iraqi Security Frces. The terrorist groups use those sites, especially Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in the dissemination of videos showing mass executions of security agents and soldiers caught in their grip.